SHILLONG, Sep 29: The state government plans to renovate and construct the buildings of most schools in Meghalaya at an estimated expenditure of at least Rs 200 crore, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Thursday.
He told reporters that the spending would be commensurate with the category of the schools and the condition they are in.
The government, he said, would earmark about Rs 48 lakh for more than 200 schools that require new buildings. Some schools would require Rs 2-5 lakh for construction or renovation.
“The assessment will have to be done. We are looking at up to Rs 300 crore to complete the schools,” he said.
Sangma virtually launched the Meghalaya School Upgradation Programme under which 50 lower primary and upper primary schools were upgraded and improved under Phase I of the programme.
Addressing the gathering of students, teachers and officials from the Education department, the CM said: “There are a large number of schools that require upgradation; hence we are moving in a phased manner and this programme will also extend to the secondary and higher secondary schools.”
He informed that another 100 renovated schools will be inaugurated between November and January. “We have gone on mission mode and the team that includes the deputy commissioners and official from PWD and other line departments will work in coordination so that the target of the first 200 schools is achieved within the specified time,” he added.
He further stated that as the infrastructures are completed the rankings of the State in Education will also improve.
Referring to the NIPUN Bharat Mission (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy, launched by the Education Ministry of India under National Education Policy 2022) which was also e-launched on the same day, he said that the programme will be working towards building the foundational skills and the mission also will go a long way in improving the overall cognitive capability of children and overall analytical skills.
The CM said the state government is working hard to address the problem of inadequate teachers. He admitted the government appointed 1,300 teachers during the last four years, but the arrangement with them is temporary.
“There are 14,000 schools and about 12,000 are lower primary. Out of these 14,000 schools, about 36 do not have teachers,” Sangma said, adding that some complications arose as the government preferred appointments instead of infrastructure first.
He pointed out that some court cases prevented the government from planning to start the examination process. “We are trying to resolve them and hopefully we will be able to have teachers for all the schools. We are also looking for rationalisation in schools,” the CM said.
Stating that there are schools with several teachers but a handful of students, he mentioned schools with many students but a few teachers.
“We have to rationalise the government schools – take out some of the teachers from schools with a few students and transfer them to schools with more students. This process will always be dynamic in nature,” he said.
According to him, there will never be a situation where it will always be perfect. “But to whatever extent possible, we are taking a number of steps to ensure that even the issues of teachers are resolved,” he added.
