Govt cautions against stiff admission fees

SHILLONG, June 2: The Education Department would take cognisance of reports that several private colleges and higher secondary schools in Shillong and in other parts of the state have been charging abnormally high fees from admission-seeking students.
Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma on Friday said that he has received petitions from NGOs on the matter.
Assuring that the department will act and take appropriate measures, he said the matter would have to be discussed and a call would be taken considering the economy and environment of the students in the state.
Urging private institutes to understand the problem of the students, Sangma admitted that the number of institutes in the state providing higher education is not enough to cater to the growing number of students.
“There is some limitation. At the elementary level, we have access to schools but there is a challenge when it comes to higher education,” he said.
The minister, however, defended the government on the lack of government institutions that can provide quality education at a manageable rate, saying the state government is coming up with community (people’s) colleges in many locations.
He said the focus on youth, education for all, and employment opportunities are needed to thwart insurgency from raising its ugly head once again in the state.
His constituency of Rongara-Siju in the South Garo Hills district, bordering Bangladesh, was once dubbed as a corridor for militants to cross over to Bangladesh.
Referring to the recent reports of the GNLA re-grouping, he said, “Those are rumours as all the persons have been arrested.”
“As of now, I think there is no such thing on the ground because of technology and communication and people are happy with the functioning of the government. At these times who will go to the forest and do all this nonsense?” he asked.
He stressed that bringing up the standard of education, infrastructure and development is the need of the hour. “We have to change the mindset of the people. When people are not happy with the government and their parents, they always resort to such things,” he said.
Sangma said backwardness was once considered fodder for militancy, but the scenario has changed due to the emphasis on development in recent times.
He observed that the youth would normally not pick up arms and education for every family in every community could go a long way in checking such tendencies. “The youth will not go astray if we provide sports activities and business opportunities,” he said.
Stating that Meghalaya is one of the most sought-after destinations, he said the tourism industry can provide ample employment opportunities to the youth.