ADB funded project to address critical gaps in education sector
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Tuesday expressed unhappiness with the slow progress of construction of the new school building of Hawakhana Higher Secondary School, Tura, and urged the implementing agencies to ensure speedy completion of the project.
Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for construction of the new school building of Hawakhana Higher Secondary School, Tura, under the Asian Development Bank funded project ‘Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya’, the chief minister expressed happiness at having been able to bring the first ever social sector project for the State to address critical gaps in the education sector.
“We need to pull up our socks and ensure fructification of the objectives that we have set for our children,” he said and called for collective responsibility and endeavour with a sense of ownership from all concerned to take the project forward.
While congratulating those students who came out in flying colours in the recently declared SSLC and HSSLC results despite limitations, he, however, said he was pained to see some schools, particularly in the rural areas, drawing blank in the results.
He said the huge gap in pass percentage was an offshoot of disparities between rural and urban schools even as he questioned the kind of challenge that the State would face if all 50,000-odd students who appeared for SSLC exams this year were to pass the examination, due to lack of infrastructure and institutions or higher studies.
Recalling the fact that the Education department earlier used to be just ‘a salary giving department’ without any developmental projects, the chief minister highlighted a number of schemes taken up by the State government over the years.
“But even after all these years we are still struggling to ensure that children get the right ambience in their place of study. We talk of smart classrooms and computers – but what is the use of them when you do not have the required infrastructure – the buildings and proper classrooms?” he asked.
He said that the ‘Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya’ project has been taken up by the State government with funding from ADB to address these kind of challenges and critical gaps in education, while adding that the programme, which is exclusive to Meghalaya, is set to be replicated in some African nations.
Meanwhile, the chief minister also called upon the institutions in the State to act as a platform of information for the students about opportunities available before them so that they are not dependent on ‘white collared’ jobs but can take up other spaces of jobs available.
He also suggested to the district administration to start promotion of skill training programme at the district level to empower the youth with career and job opportunities.
It may be mentioned that Hawakhana Higher Secondary School was established in 1968 and has been catering to the educational needs of students from various parts of Garo Hills.
The project is the first of its kind in the country which focuses on improvement of secondary education and skill development.
Under the project, scores of government-aided secondary and higher secondary schools in the State are being upgraded with the kind of infrastructure to improve the overall learning environment for the students.
Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi and Joint Director, DSEL, Tura, S. D. Sangma, were among others who also spoke on the occasion.