SHILLONG: In preparation for the NE India Education Summit scheduled to be held in Aizawl, on February 28 to March 2, 2019, the Mizoram Government is holding preparatory workshops across the seven states.
To be organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Skills Development and Education (MSDE), the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC), Face Book and Josh Talks, the Summit will bring to the table the educational challenges of the region and the need for a more nuanced approach to education which is comprehensive and skill oriented.
Addressing the audience, Principal Secretary, Education, DP Wahlang said the education summit is a long overdue project as the Northeastern states have to converge and list out the challenges as a region so that the Central Government takes cognizance of the peculiar problems of the region.
”Rs 35.5 lakh is allocated for construction of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Schools across the country without taking into cognizance the fact that building materials cost almost double the amount in these distant hilly states. Even with the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) or the National Higher Education Mission – a holistic scheme for development of higher education in India initiated in 2013 by the MHRD which entails private, public partnership (PPP), there are hardly any captains of industry to partner with the states in the North East to create the IIITs,” Wahlang said, adding that the Education Summit must ensure that the North East is uniquely positioned. Commissioner and Secretary Higher and Technical Education, Government of Mizoram, Ashish Kundra highlighted the current problems in education in the tribal states of the region which is marked by high drop- out rates and the inability of the system to map out what happens to those that drop out of schools and colleges.
The partnering institution, Delhi based Josh Talks the Indian version of Ted Talk invited Mark Laitflang Stone of Avenues and Patricia Mukhim, Editor, The Shillong Times to share their life’s journey with the students of NEHU and motivate them to face life’s adversities with courage and to look their fears in the face and overcome it.
Ritu Agarwal of the NSDC presented the Corporation’s mandate and what it offers to the youth of the North East. She said that Japan which is an aging country is becoming a leading destination for job seekers from India with a huge young population. Besides, there are cultural affinities between the people of North East and the Japanese.
Governor, Tathagatha Roy, the chief guest at the function said it is important for the youth to be mentored on what their capabilities are and what skill sets they should develop in order that they find the kind of jobs that satisfy them in the long run.
