SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), northern region demanded examination centers for students who are set to appear for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) in areas of Umsiang, Umtrai, Korhadem, Sonidan, Umsohlait of Ri-Bhoi district.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday, president of HNYF, northern region, Marcus Marten said that students from Mawhati have to travel 70 km-80 km to Umsning, Nongpoh and Byrnihat to write their SSLC examinations.
There are five secondary schools (adhoc grant schools) of which there are over 100-130 students and over 200 repeaters.
In this connection, the HNYF along with a delegation of traditional heads from Mawhati met and submitted a memorandum to the Joint Director of Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE), M. Marbaniang who assured that the needful would be done only in 2019.
Marbaniang informed them that as for the time being, preparations for holding the SSLC examination of 2018 were in full swing and the matter could only be taken up the next year.
Meanwhile, member of Synjuk ki Rangbah Shnong, Marius Jyrwa informed that it was the second time the delegation met MBoSE officials.
“It was two years ago that we went to seek help in this matter. It did not materialise as there was no Police Station at Umsohlait which will serve as the strong room,” he said.
According to them, they maintained that there is an operational Police Station at Umsohlait and Police Outpost at Umsiang which will cover the necessary provisional requirement for setting up the SSLC examination center at Umsohlait.
In the memorandum to the Controller Examination, MBoSE, Shillong, slammed the government for negligence which results in harassment and deprivation of the local poor who cannot afford to travel long distances to appear for the examinations.
The organisation also demanded that the government should find ways and means to set up the Higher Secondary institution in the area so that the rural poor are not deprived of an opportunity to be educated.