TURA, Jan 31: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has informed that the MDA Government is expected to renovate, repair and construct at least 1,000 lower-primary schools in state before the end of its term as the funds for the same have already been sanctioned.
“We have prioritised education ever since we formed the government in 2018. If we cannot provide quality education, then we will fail our people,” the CM said while attending a foundation-laying ceremony for a residential school in Phulbari, West Garo Hills, on Monday.
Pointing out the significance of education in Meghalaya, Conrad said, “We will be able to change lives through education. Without education, who will help us build roads, hospitals, infrastructure? Everything depends on quality education.”
Highlighting the poor state of Meghalaya’s rural schools, Conrad asserted that more than 40 Eklavya Schools have been sanctioned for Meghalaya, with each project worth at least Rs 30 crore, totalling to an amount of over Rs 1,200 crore.
It may be mentioned that the school in Phulbari, the construction of which has been entrusted with the MGCCL, will be a girls-only residential institution. The project will come up on a 200-bigha land donated by the Nokma of Bangranggre.
The school, which is believed to be a significant game-changer in the rural education of Phulbari in future, is coming up under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) within a budget of Rs 19 crore.
Stating that his government has taken up repair and renovation projects of over 500 schools till date, Conrad also shared his immediate plans for the educational sector.
“Before the end of our term, we expect to renovate, repair and construct at least 1,000 LP schools. Huge amount of money has been sanctioned for this purpose. Further, we are also working on providing college infrastructure where there is none. The colleges in Williamnagar, Baghmara and Sohra have been taken up and are likely to be completed by the end of the year,” the CM said.
The base-laying ceremony was also attended by local MLA, SG Esmatur Mominin.
“The school will be a boon for us and is the only such project in the state. It will help change the education scenario in our area and is sign of times to come,” said Mominin.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh, who also was part of the programme, said, “Education in Phulbari is taken very seriously and there is a lot of hard work done by children to excel in education here. This has to be encouraged.”
