Cracks on college building an ‘expansion joint’: Rymbui

SHILLONG, June 14: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday clarified that the “alleged” cracks appearing on the walls of the Patharkhmah Model Degree College is actually an “expansion joint” between two buildings. He also said that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has already agreed to sanction fund for construction of a two-km road from the main road to the college.
“It is not a crack actually but an expansion joint of the two building. There is provision of a lift but since electricity has not been supplied to the building we have not installed it,” he clarified a day after The Shillong Times published a report including photos of the cracks on the walls and pillars of the building that was constructed just over a year ago and is yet to be occupied.
The report had exposed the inferior quality of construction executed by the contractor for the Rs 11.01-crore project.
Rymbui said the college was constructed in Patharkhmah since Ri-Bhoi has been named as an aspirational district. “Construction of the building is more or less complete but the third party audit is yet to be completed and the payment to the contractor has also not been made,” he said.
The minister stated that the CM had held a review meet last week wherein he had agreed to sanction funds for the road.
“Last month the state Cabinet had decided to approve sanctions for various posts in the college but due to lack of electrical connection and the approach road it will take more time for the government to start the college,” he said.
It may be mentioned that the foundation stone of the Patharkhmah Model Degree College was virtually laid by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on February 3, 2019 via video conferencing from the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, Srinagar.
‘Govt school teachers performing below par’
Rymbui hailed the performance of private schools in the SSLC and HSSLC examinations and questioned the government schools for performing below par.
Stating that the students of private schools securing positions in the top 20 list is a good trend, he said: “There are many NGOs and social organisations that set up schools in different parts of the state and they are really doing very well.”
He lamented the performance of the government schools. “Whether in Garo Hills, Shillong or Jowai, the pass percentage of government schools is ok but not up to the mark,” he said.
“The government teachers are well paid, trained and they have the experience,” he said, wondering what was lacking in them.
Rymbui said the students rush to schools of repute once they pass the SSLC exams. “A government school is the third or fourth option, which is not a healthy trend. Reversing this trend is the responsibility of the stakeholders along with the government,” he said.
He said the students tried their best in this year’s Class 10 exams but the poor pass percentage in the Garo Hills region was worrying.
The DCs and education officers have tried to address the issue, he said. “I hope in the coming year, the performance of the teachers and the students will improve,” he added.
Rymbui advised the students to look beyond the Class 10 results and prepare themselves for tougher tests ahead.