TURA: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has assured of bringing about massive structural changes and rationalisation in the educational polices in the state. The chief minister assured this while speaking as the chief guest in the Golden Jubilee celebration of Mothers’ Union Secondary School, Tura, on Monday.
Going deeper into the matter, Sangma said that the overall scenario of school education was very challenging in the state, and in this regard, the Garo hills situation in particular, was worrisome and alarming where the overall pass percentages in Secondary and Higher Secondary Board Exams stood far below the average pass percentages of the state.
Therefore, Garo Hills need special attention,” he said.
Expressing concern, Sangma said that out of every 100 students who appear for the boards, some 25 students pass the examination in a particular district of Garo Hills, adding that “that is a fact and challenge”.
Therefore, taking all those shortcomings into considerations and with a view to improve the educational scenario, the government has started a new programme, specifically for Garo Hills, wherein the deputy commissioners of all the five districts have been asked to identify some 20 odds least performing schools in terms of results in their respective districts and come up with action-oriented innovations like creating extra classrooms, extension of electricity and drinking water facilities, etc. to try improve the education levels.
Drawing the overall status of state of affairs in the entire state, Sangma said that there are many schools with no student and, conversely, there are schools where the ratio of teachers does not commensurate with the number of students as per the norms.
He said that government was aware of the problems and admitted that changes are going to happen overnight, although the government is according the topmost priority to the education sector having earmarked Rs 2,200 crore for education alone out of its total budgetary outlay of Rs 4,000 crore.
Congratulating and wishing the teachers, staff, students and the managing committee of the school on having reached this far, the chief minister said that all the past struggles and difficulties appears too small a price paid and nothing can stop glory and success if there are dedication, passion and commitment, adding that this sense of purpose, belongingness and spirit should guide the school to reach greater pinnacle.
Thomas A. Sangma, North Tura MLA & Adviser to the chief minister, who was the guest of honour on the occasion and one of the alumni of the school, profusely thanked one of the pioneers teachers who imbibed in him a thorough understating of the nitty-gritty of basics of arithmetic because of him he could score 100 per cent in the subject in his school days. He also exhorted the teachers to keep themselves updated with changes that are taking place in the field of science and technology saying that modern age belongs to dynamics in technologies.
The Mothers’ Union School of Tura located just adjacent to the Chandmari playground, was started by a group of spirited mothers of Tura.
