SHILLONG/TURA/MAWKYRWAT/NONGSTOIN, Sep 5: Against the backdrop of sleeping on the roadside, rallying, sloganeering, protesting, and sitting for parleys with authorities for their grievances to be heard, the teaching community from across the state was honoured with praise and admiration for their contribution to the society in terms of imparting education to the students as Meghalaya celebrated the 61st Teachers’ Day in separate programmes and functions organised across all districts.
It is pertinent to understand that a section of teachers are time and again found agitating for the government to address their problems that range from pay disparity, delay in release of salaries to regularisation of their services and more.
But this Teachers’ Day, notwithstanding what occurred in the past, teachers from across the state were lauded and feted in some places for their role in making education possible through novel interventions when COVID-19 pandemic single-handedly tried to topple the entire education sector.
In the state capital, the Education department organised a programme at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong.
Chief guest of the programme, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui praised the teachers’ efforts in continuing students’ education during the worst days of the pandemic.
Acknowledging that teachers face numerous other challenges concerning their pay, the minister reiterated that the government is commitment to ensure continuous effort in addressing their issues.
Rymbui stressed on the need for teachers to come up with various innovative methods for holistic development of the students. He also congratulated Gamchi Timre R Marak, Head Teacher of Educere Higher Secondary School, Williamnagar, who was conferred with the National Teacher Award 2022.
On the occasion, the Meghalaya government honoured 13 mentors with ‘State Teachers’ Award’ in recognition of their dedicated services. (See inset)
Besides the state award, the ‘District Award’ was also conferred upon as many as 33 teachers from across the state.
In East Khasi Hills, the District Award was presented to V Dipali Sharma Rao, Principal, Laban Assamese Girls’ HS School, Laban, under secondary section, while Philosimai Syiem, Assistant Teacher, Nongkrem Govt. UP School, Nongkrem was conferred with the award under upper primary section; and Belinda Kharsati, Head Teacher, Pomlahier LP School, was awarded under lower primary section.
Special Award (Inclusive School) was conferred upon Josephine Lyngdoh, Special Educator, Mary Rice Centre for Special Education, Laitumkhrah, Shillong.
Habandamon Rani of Seng Khasi HS School, Shillong, and Deigracia A Shylla of Holy Child HS School, Shillong, received the Scoutmaster and Guide awards respectively.
In Garo Hills, functions and cultural programmes marked the 61st Teachers’ Day on Monday with respective district administrations organising separate programmes to honour those in the profession on their special day in Tura, West Garo Hills, Resubelpara, North Garo Hills, and Ampati in South West Garo Hills.
District awardees from South West Garo Hills include Assistant Teacher of Rangsakona Def. Secondary School, Haripad Das (Secondary level); Assistant Teacher, Tewaligre Improved UP School, Fizarold Ch. Marak (UP level); and Head Teacher, Dolbari Govt. LP School (LP level); while Pular D Shira of Rang Dokram Rover Crew, Ampati, and Assistant Teacher of St. Dominic Savio HS Garobadha, Bonchera R Marak, were awarded the Best Scout Master and Guide Captain, 2022, respectively.
Awardees from WGH include Manoj Kumar Prasad, Assistant Teacher of Monfort Centre for Education, Tura, Frederick R Sangma, Headmaster, Dobasipara Upper Primary School, and Miman M Sangma, Head Teacher, Balsrigittim L P School, Tura.
North Garo Hills awardees are Margareth Momin, assistant teacher, Resubelpara Govt HSS (secondary level), Clarish Marak, head teacher, L.J. Ao Memorial UP School Mendipathar (primary level) and Pillarson Momin, head teacher, Chilpara Reserve LP School (lower primary level).
occasion of Teachers’ Day. Similar protest were held in schools all across Garo Hills including at St. Xavier’s School Tura, Rangsakona, JN HS School, Phulbari and Rongrenggre Model School in East Garo Hills.
In Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills, Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills, and Jowai and Khliehriat in West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills respectively, similar programmes were held to celebrate the occasion.
The District Award in South West Khasi Hills was conferred upon Handurass Shullai, vice principal of Pongkung Church of God Higher Secondary School, Pongkung (secondary level), Driallinis Shangdiar, assistant teacher, Nonglang Upper Primary School (UP level), and Readverb R Marak, assistant teacher, Ranikor Government LP School (LP level).
Francis Thyrniang, assistant teacher, St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Rangblang, was declared the Best Scout Master, while Shantihun Kharsyntiew, assistant teacher, Flower Bud Upper Primary School, Mawranglang, was declared Best Guide Captain.
In West Jaintia Hills, the District Awards were conferred upon Hubert Thyrniang, assistant teacher, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Jowai (secondary level), Fabriously Suchiang, Headmaster, Shangpung Government UP School (UP level), and Beyond Lanong, head teacher, Sohkha Shnong LP School (lower primary level). The Best Scout Master award was given to Teilang Rymbai, assistant teacher, Achiever Secondary School, Ummulong, and Best Guide Captain was Rosie Bang of Thomas Jones Synod College, Jowai.
East Jaintia Hills district awardees include Tasiana Kympat, assistant teacher, Tluh Secondary School (secondary level), Draitis Paslein, assistant teacher, Pala UP School (UP level), and Rufina Kyndait, assistant teacher, Dkhiah Government LP School (LP level).
Best District Scout Master award was conferred upon Mondaystar Nongtdu, assistant teacher, Sutnga Government UP School, Sutnga, and Best Guide Captain award upon Laxmi Sarkar, assistant teacher, Star Public School, Lumshnong.
In Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills, district awardees were B Victor Myrthong, assistant teacher of Anderson Higher Secondary School, Nongstoin, and H Roy Lyngkhoi, head teacher, Church Of God LP School, Mawsaw. The Scout Master award was given to Damien Nongsiang from Nongstoin Public Secondary School, and Guide Captain award was conferred upon Ribanylla Lyngdoh from Presbyterian School Mairang.
Joining the rest of the state, Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) with the help of its student council organised an event to celebrate the occasion for all teaching and non-teaching staff of the university to recognise their efforts.
The award for excellence was presented to 30 teaching staff from across the departments for their exemplary teaching at the programme.
More than 200 faculty members attended the programme organised to celebrate Teachers’ Day by the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM).
A felicitation ceremony for senior professors of the institute also took place on the occasion.
Vice Chancellor of USTM delivered a talk on ‘Role of Teachers as the Backbone of Society through Quality Teaching’.
With scanty resources, SPARK, an NGO, celebrated the day with more than 300 underprivileged children from different SPARK centres in Mawlynrei Triashnong village, Mawlong village, Bara Bazar village and Rangmen Nongsder village.
Recipients of State Awards
- Lasubon Shullai, Assistant Teacher, Laittyra UP School, Laittyra, East Khasi Hills
- Dibiland Iawphniaw, Headmaster, Malai Sohmat UP School, Phlangwanbroi, East Khasi Hills
- Sidamon Kurbah, Headmistress, Wahrit Govt. UP School, West Khasi Hills
- Bioles Lyngdoh, Assistant Teacher, Mawthawpdah (Def) UP School Mawthawpdah, South West Khasi Hills
- Dipak Kumar Saha, Assistant Teacher, Govt. Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Jowai, West Jaintia Hills
- Arun Kumar, Principal, Seinjait Tuber Higher Secondary School, Tuber Kmaishnong, East Jaintia Hills
- TP Tmung, Principal Umroi Presbyterian Higher Secondary School, Umroi, Ri-Bhoi
- Jeremias Kharbani, Headmaster, Mangsang Secondary School, East Garo Hills
- Dominic Marak, Assistant Teacher, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Mendal, North Garo Hills
- Jairaj Chetry, Headmaster, Gorkha Deficit UP School, Tura, West Garo Hills
- Hezillina T Sangma, Head Teacher, Akkonggre Govt. LP School, West Garo Hills
- Dewbarlinda B Sangma, Headmistress, Ampati Deficit UP School, South West Garo Hills
- Lindstorm K Marak, Headmaster, Rugapara Deficit Secondary School, South Garo Hills