Editor,
Until 01-07-1997, reservation of vacancies in services under the Central Government was vacancy-based for which a 40-point roster was generally maintained, and up to 1992, reservation was made only for STs and SCs – 15 percent for the former and 7.5 per cent for the latter. In 1993 reservation of 27 per cent of vacancies was made for OBC as well.
From 02-07-1997, reservation for STs/SCs/OBCs was made post-based and for this post-based reservation, a 200-point roster was maintained in which 15 posts, 30 posts and 54 posts were reserved for STs, SCs and OBCs respectively.
As per our Chief Minister’s statement which was published in The Shillong Times a few days ago a post-based reservation is being implemented in Meghalaya. If the Central Government had made post-based reservation for SCs/STs/OBCs from 02-07-1997, how can the Government of Meghalaya implement the post-based roster system from 1972 when all the unfilled and carried forward posts reserved for the Garos and the Khasi-Pnar, as the case may be, had already lapsed and even records of unfilled and carried forward posts may not be available?
Yours etc.,
Pyrtuh
Shillong- 14
Passion with a Mission
Editor,
I was hoping, nay rather expecting someone to respond to the letter captioned: Of educational structure & learning quality, (ST May 6, 2023) by a teacher who had no option but to request anonymity because the rules bound him/her to do so. Nevertheless, the writer must be complimented for the observations expressed which are spot on and hard hitting. It exposes the underbelly of the failings and shortcomings of school education! Yet politicians blabber about the changes and the plans of action they are going to initiate in addressing all educational matters.
What peeves me is that politicians say the right things, especially to the public at school celebrations, conferences and meetings. Hopes are raised. Excitement is high. But then they drag their feet when it comes to implementation of what is promised. No clarity and commitment is ever made in a time bound measure! This is the greatest drawback. This is disheartening. This is tearful!
I did read in The Shillong Times sometime back that Meghalaya would follow the CBSE syllabus. To me the syllabus, as well as the examination system and pattern (and the marking scheme) are better structured. However, a blind copy and paste laziness without a thorough introspection to meet local dynamics, should not be the norm! The Education Commission (if it has come into existence!), must face the challenge in streamlining school education to lift it out of the pathetic state it has sunk to. All school heads affiliated to MBOSE can begin by conducting in-depth frank discussions with their teachers on all the observations raised in the letter. Collate valid actionable suggestions for onward submission to the Commission where they can debate threadbare for adoption and implementation. I will go so far as to submit that the very teachers who have expressed solid practical ideas be brought into this high profile meeting to give a better perspective. No bureaucrat or other civil servant of higher learning, will be able to do a better job than the person on the ground with a first-hand knowledge, experience and expertise to ”reconstruct its curriculum”.
The writer’s closing remark, ”. no one talks about the problems faced by our students.” is the core issue according to me. If School Management Committees (SMC), are amenable to the reversal of an established school order and can make a paradigm shift showing the humility, grace and courage to accept that the student always comes first, then the teachers followed by the parents and lastly them; we then can lift our heads in joyous hope! Don’t smirk or jeer at me Management! Pause! Give it some serious thought! Think beyond convention and old practises! Think why not! Think let’s give it a try!
Let me interject here and inform you that some corporate school leave all academic management functioning entirely to the school head! And they do well! The SMC technically pass the minutes of the agenda that are discussed, decisions arrived at and actions to be taken, including school budget and other administrative matters. It is the head of the school along with all departmental staff and teachers who do the hard work at the ground level. If all can come together with a passion then the mission will be accomplished.
Your etc.,
Kevin Phillips
Shillong – 1
Resolution versus Policy
Editor,
A Resolution is a plan sent to a meeting for discussion, debate, approval and adapting. If the motion is approved by the members present at a meeting, it is referred to as a resolution. There are three forms of resolutions, (a)ordinary (adopted by a simple majority), special (adopted by three-fourths majority) and unanimous (everyone is in total agreement). State Resolutions are generally adopted by State Legislatures in the Legislative Assembly.
A policy is a system of guidelines to achieve rational outcomes, and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. Policies are generally adopted by the Government. Under the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 – Act No,55 of 1969 (29th December, 1969) Meghalaya was born as an Autonomous State on 2nd April 1970, consisting of 41 Members, 38 Members indirectly elected and 3 members nominated. Meghalaya became a full-fledged State on 21st January 1972 and comprised 60 elected members. But the Resolution on job quota issued vide No.PER.222/71/138 Dated Shillong, the 12th January, 1972 was issued without proper procedure and method of identifying, the weakest of the weak, wherever they may be found among the populace. Hurriedly it was issued 9 (nine) days before the State of Meghalaya was officially formed on the midnight of January 20-21, 1972 and less than 2 (two) months before the first election which was held on 9th March, 1972. Moreover, it was not discussed, debated, voted, passed by the Autonomous State Legislature as empowered under article 16 clause 4 of the Constitution of India (strictly for reservation of posts). It was simply issued as decided (not voted), keeping in view the inadequacy of representation of these communities in the services under the autonomous State (not full-fledged State) of Meghalaya in terms of their population that for maintenance of efficiency in the administration. The old Resolution needs revision. Khasi, Jaintia and Garo, let us stand together for the betterment of the State.
Yours etc.
Pakyntein,
Shillong-4