Conrad prescribes ‘community participation’ pill to cure education

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Friday advocated community participation to improve the education sector in the state plagued by near-absence of basic amenities in schools and a low pass percentage in SSLC examination for the past five years.
Speaking at the inauguration of a building of Mohan Massar U.P.School at Mawprem, he said, “The education scenario in the state is not as rosy as we would want it to be. Sixty-seventy per cent of schools across the state have no proper drinking water, more than 50 per cent of schools have no electricity and even the Class X results throw up a percentage of only 54-55.”
About the poor Class X results, he said the pass percentage has remained stuck at 50-55 for the past five years with nearly 25,000 of the more than 50,000 candidates failing to clear the examinations.
According to Sangma, community participation is indispensable to change the education sector in the state and to stop the blame game wherein teachers complain against the officers, the parents against the teachers etc.
He also informed that under the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the Centre has listed 36 EMRS in Meghalaya, making it the highest in the country.
He added that with the setting up the EMRS schools in far-flung areas of the state, the biggest challenge of providing quality education in rural areas will be resolved.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui lauded the efforts of Round Table India for providing the building but urged it to make it a disabled-friendly school.
He admitted the government is handicapped due to lack of funds.
He urged the teachers of the school to work hard to increase enrollment and said that Round Table India should consider the needs of the differently-abled in the next phase of the school building.
The Round Table India, through its Shillong chapter and Shillong Ladies Circle, has built an eight-classroom building block at the school. Shillong Round Table is a part of Round Table India Movement.
The flagship programme of Round Table India is Freedom through Education under which educational infrastructure is provided for the under-privileged children.
On the other hand, Executive Member of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Paul Lyngdoh, also handed over a cheque of Rs one lakh to the school during the occasion.