Editor,
A letter appeared in The Shillong Times (ST Oct 19, 2021) under the caption, “Back to the dark ages”, whereby the name of Pastor F. Suting from the Church of God was reflected in the said letter. With regard to this matter, on behalf of the Church of God (Meghalaya and Assam) we would like to clarify that after the Government had allowed re-opening of religious places, the Church has given the instructions to all the local Churches falling under the Assembly of the Church of God (Meghalaya and Assam) to strictly follow the protocols issued by the Government.
However, as regards the conduct of Pastor F. Suting as reflected in the newspaper, I would like to clarify that he did it in his personal capacity in his own house without the knowledge and consent of the Authority of the Church. Therefore, the Authority or the Church or God have no responsibility or liability for anything done by him.
Yours etc.,
(Rev. Dr.S.K.Syiemlieh)
Executive Secretary
Pastors’ Fellowship
Church of God (M&A)
Overburdened students
Editor,
With the re-opening of schools and the final exams staring at us the ticking time bomb for completion of syllabus starts beeping. Though many schools have shifted towards offline classes many are yet to consider that with parents contemplating over sending their gems to school where they are to fend for themselves. I have to say that both have their own merits depending on one’s situation but given Meghalaya’s network issue we definitely catch sight of the imbalanced ratio of students with and without the proper facilities, at this point I have to say it’s now a game of finding the right mobile network/broadband/WIFI connection.
Even with the best to offer, privileged students ever so often still complain about their school work. Same goes for the ones at a disadvantage. Call it undisciplined, undetermined or negligent, but when homework starts looking like a 9-5 job not to mention the overtime that comes along with it that is inevitable.
Given Meghalaya’s network issue many teachers are using audios, videos, pdfs etc., as their main teaching platforms alongside Google meets, but in my understanding, the problem arises not because of the teachers’ methods of taking classes, but the amount of homework sent by them every day, the most common being, copying of notes from the phone/laptop to the notebooks. I presume teachers do this with the hope that students would better understand the chapter through writing notes. But the problem is that majority of students usually either have music playing in the background, or are on a call or conversing with someone in person as they write. Out of 100% of the work only half of a fraction or even less is being done sincerely. The work is done only for the sake of completing it. When it comes to studying almost nothing is accomplished especially since there always awaits a 29,000 ft mountain of incomplete assignments on the table.
No doubt these are the duties of us students but they need to be in moderation. There might be a few even in these times that are able to bear this and fulfil their duties. You have my deepest respect and admiration. But honestly, most students just can’t keep up with the pace anymore. It’s going way beyond our comprehension, hardly getting anything done. We often indulge ourselves in overwork in the hopes of catching up. But at times when we do actually catch up exhaustion kicks in and the cycle repeats.
Students’ duties are undeniably top responsibilities but what’s most important is our health be it social, mental or physical. It should never be sacrificed for the sake of numbers on a sheet of paper.
(I write this from my point of view as a class 8 student, and I do not mean to offend any particular individual or group)
Yours etc.,
Ilarisa A Lamin,
Via email
Congress could retain its two seats
Editor,
By-elections to Parliament, especially to the Lok Sabha, and to the Vidhan Sabha occur quite often due to vacancies of seats to be filled up. This time the Election Commission of India (ECI) took prompt decision to hold the by-elections to fill up the vacancies, especially in Meghalaya. In the past it took quite a long time, sometimes more than one year, to hold the by-elections and unfortunately at times not even before the next election is due thereby denying some constituencies the right to have public representatives. This must be avoided at all costs.
This time, in Meghalaya, the by-elections are meant to fill up only three vacancies in Mawryngkneng, Mawphlang and Rajabala Assembly constituencies. According to present political indications, unless otherwise the winds change directions, by October 30, the first and the third might be wrestled by the Congress candidates and the second might be pocketed by the UDP nominee. The results might not be of great significance or bring about change in the present political equations but it will be an added booster for the coming Assembly elections scheduled for early 2023.
Yours etc..
Philip Marwein,
Sr. Journalist,
Via email
Students’ plight
Editor,
With reference to the subject cited above, I am writing to you, in order to raise a voice on the challenges faced by the students in the upcoming selection examination as there was a delayed announcement of the academic annual selection date. Almost all of the courses are incomplete and now the teachers have to rush through them all. As a student I could not take in so many chapters at the same time. The selection examination is near but the courses are still pending. This is causing a great deal of problems for the students. Will the Government consider the plight of the large majority of students or just comply with the requirements of completing all examination formalities?
Let it not be forgotten that many students are already left behind due to the pandemic.
Yours etc.,
A student,
Name withheld on request