SHILLONG: The Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) on Tuesday opposed the move of the Centre to privatise education in the country.
Talking to media persons here on Wednesday, the MCTA said that this attempt of the Centre will have a negative impact on the education system by depriving the underprivileged section.
“It is really unfortunate that the Centre is also trying to do away with the policy of providing fund to public-run institutions,” MCTA president BH Buam said.
The MCTA alleged that the Centre is trying to rid itself of all social and financial commitments towards promoting higher education. According to Buam, the sinister designs are sought to be legitimised through such action like doing away with long established institutions such as UGC and AICTE and replacing them by such bodies like Higher Education Funding Agency and Higher Education Empowerment Regulatory Authority.
Meanwhile, the Association has slammed the State Government over non existence of the State Education Policy even after 45 years of statehood.
General secretary of the Association Amanda Basaiawmoit said that since 1972, Meghalaya does not have an education policy which is a clear indication of Government’s apathetic attitude towards the education sector.
The Association also rued that regional imbalance of higher education exists in the state since higher institutions are Shillong centric which is leading to migration of students from rural to urban areas, adding the problem is resulting in drop outs.
According to Basaiawmoit, lack of supporting infrastructure and school educational facilities in the state also does not make it conducive for the national institutes of importance to be setup in the state.
