SHILLONG: The University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) in association with ERD Foundation, Guwahati has felicitated all the 74 rank holder students of SSLC and HSSLC 2019 under MBOSE here Tuesday.
The awards were handed over by the Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma in presence of D D Lapang, Advisor to Government of Meghalaya; Lahkmen Rymbui, Education Minister; Kyrmen Shylla, Revenue Minister; Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM and Dr PK Goswami, Vice Chancellor of USTM.
The programme was attended by several other dignitaries, high officials as well as school principals, parents and guardians of the rank holding students. The rank holder students were awarded with laptops, digital tablets, mementoes and citations. Out of the total rank holding students, 36 are SSLC toppers, 12 are HS Arts toppers, 11 are HS Science toppers and 15 are HS Commerce toppers.
Delivering the awards to the toppers, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma congratulated all the toppers as well as USTM and its Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque.
He said, “I am happy that Education is on the top of the agenda of USTM and the Meghalaya Government is trying to improve education in the State with a vision. We try to ensure that nobody is unproductive. Follow your passion; it is the most important thing in life. Without passion people give up when they face challenges.”
Thanking Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque and the entire USTM team for the gesture of honouring the rank holders, he said that institutions like USTM have a big role to play in research and development which will further contribute to policy making of the nation.
Presiding over the meeting, DD Lapang said that it is important to dream big to achieve in life. Praising the USTM Chancellor, he said that Mahbubul Hoque is a dreamer who can translate dreams into reality.
Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said, “This is a unique programme where a university has recognised the hard work of the students”. He said that the State requires human resources and urged the student community to come forward to work for the country.
Recalling Swami Vivekananda on the occasion, Revenue Minister of Meghalaya Kyrmen Shylla said, “We must adopt one idea and make that idea alive by thinking and dreaming of it. Leaders are not born, they are inspired and motivated to become leaders.”
Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM said that he is committed to the development of science and technology education and research in the region and to make USTM a world class university by 2030. He announced that USTM is offering free education to all the toppers of MBOSE after they pass higher secondary.
Hoque also mentioned about an entirely new course—BA Administrative Service which has been introduced at USTM in the 2019 academic session. The prime focus of the course is to groom students for competitive examinations like IAS, IPS conducted by UPSC. The course has gained importance amidst the academia for its effort to create a conducive environment, proper guidance, resource persons and encouragement for the students to achieve their goal.