Williamnagar: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma, while admitting that successive governments have not been able to provide access to quality education as it had to focus on fulfilling the mandate of providing free and compulsory education, however, said that there was a sense of accomplishment as the present government had been responding to the educational needs in the State and underscored the need to build partnerships with likeminded educational institutions to provide quality education to usher an era of positive development of the youths.
The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for construction of science block of Loyola College, Williamnagar in East Garo Hills in the presence of School Education & Literacy Minister Deborah C. Marak, Parliamentary Secretary, Sengnam Marak, Regional Superior of the Jesuits of North East, Fr. Arul, Principal, Loyola College, Fr. Sunny, district officials and the faculty, staff, students and parents of the college on Saturday.
The Chief Minister opined that students coming from different backgrounds had different capacities of absorption which was one of the challenges in education and stressed the need to give special focus on weaker students. Stating that every centre of learning has to take the challenge of equipping our children to prepare them to be competent of becoming global citizens, he applauded the college for giving the touch of nurturing and transforming the students and assured government support to see that it reaches the most difficult areas of the state.
The Chief Minister was impressed by the brilliant performance of the students of the college who presented a Broadway musical “Annie” and said that the play put up by them “infused hope despite all the negativities of the past”. He lamented that such physical and mental conditioning of the students was missing in most of the institutions and announced that the government would encourage organisations and individuals, who would like to promote drama in the state of Meghalaya. “Drama as a weapon of transformation can instill good qualities and virtues”, he said adding that the government has chalked out a plan to ensure that the surrendered rebels were engaged in art and drama, so that they can overcome the rebellious nature in them.
The Chief Minister also asked the educational institutions to infuse a spirit of entrepreneurship and inform them about the abundance of space available for their career where there was less competition adding that when there is competition for limited space of opportunity there is bound to be frustration among the youth.
He also informed that a programme for entrepreneurship building would be launched in the state very soon where educational institutions would be partners and appealed to the principal, teachers, students and parents to participate in the programme to understand the multiple career opportunities available. He also expressed a deep a deep sense of appreciation to the governing body of the college for ensuring the presence of this institution in this part of the state about five years ago when the perception of this region was negative for the obvious reason of militancy.
Loyola College is set to begin its Science stream in the month of June 2018 as part of its commitment to the people of the State, according to its Principal, Father Sunny.