Moreau Institute of Integral Training and Research Society, an initiative of the Fathers of Holy Cross, is helping the youth in Shillong realise their dream of cracking the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The institute acts as a facilitator for UPSC coaching network ALS, or Alternative Learning Systems, Satellite Education. Civil service aspirants in the city and from other parts of the state are trained for the competitive examination through real-time online classes. Experts at ALS’s main centre in New Delhi teach as well as answer the queries of students online. Each smart class has a screen and a projector.
“The institute started in July 2015 after (Shillong MP) Vincent Pala requested us. ALS gives us the opportunity to extend our educational and training services to civil aspirants in the North East at a fraction of the cost of attending these coaching classes in Delhi,” says Father Abraham of Moreau Institute.
There are 129 students in each batch. There are both morning and evening classes. Father Abraham says there are many students from Garo Hills too. “Because of the lack of sponsorship, many talented but socio and economically backward students could not enroll for the coaching classes. So we approached the government for help and received funds from both the Chief Minister’s Career Guidance Scheme in 2015-16 and the North Eastern Council from 2016 onwards. Sponsorship candidates are chosen using eligibility tests conducted by ALS Delhi,” explains Father Abraham.
Altogether 340 candidates through regular courses and around 90 candidates through supplementary courses have undergone training since the commencement of the institute. Some candidates also cleared the UPSC prelims and “we are hopeful our candidates will also clear the Mains and interview in the future”, says Father Abraham.
He adds that those who are unable to crack the elite exam also gain in the form of the knowledge that they gather, the self-confidence they develop and the self-esteem they gain from the training help them later in life.
Qay Khongsai, the 27-year-old student from Manipur, says he chose to join the ALS centre in Shillong because it was a “cheaper option” than studying in Delhi. “Moreover, I have been staying in Shillong since 2011. So it was a viable option. When I was planning to prepare for the civil services exmas, I asked around and got good reviews of the place,” says Khongsai.
With more youths from the region opting for plum central government jobs, ALS has been a real pathfinder for aspirants here. Kamminsat Haokip from Manipur, a student at ALS, says since Shillong is a peaceful city, it becomes the obvious choice for UPSC aspirants and ALS is guiding teh youths on the right path.
Haokip, who left Manipur because of the political volatility, will appear for UPSC next year for the second time. Talking to The Shillong Times, Haokip said, “I had been preparing for IAS examinations for some time now. But after joining ALS I think I have learned more in three months. However, I have not joined the full course and I find my subjects being comprehensively prepared at ALS. The standard of questions here is also higher than other institutes,” says the UPSC aspirant, whose father works in Shillong.
ALS is a venture started by Shashank Atom, Jojo Mathew and Manoj Kumar Singh and has centres across the country. The IAS coaching centre started as Interaction IAS Study Circle in 1991. ALS was incorporated in 2003.
