By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 12: The Pynthorumkhrah Presbyterian Secondary School concluded its quasquicentennial celebration during the closing function held at the school premises here on Tuesday.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong was the chief guest while KHADC Chief Executive Member Pyniaid Sing Syiem was the guest of honour, in the presence of other dignitaries viz., Shillong MP Vincent H Pala, Cabinet Minister and local MLA Alexander Laloo Hek, Deputy CEM and local MDC Pynshngain N Syiem and KHADC Chairman Lamphrang Blah.
Speaking on the occasion, Tynsong lauded the school for producing many prominent citizens who have excelled in various fields, and exhorted the school management to ensure that it scales new heights.
At the same time, the Deputy CM also announced that the state government will sanction Rs 20 lakh for the construction of the building of the Higher Secondary section for the school.
“I hope by next year, the school will be able to start its Higher Secondary section,” Tynsong said.
In his address, the KHADC CEM noted the tremendous contributions of Christian Missionaries towards development of education in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region.
He said that the contributions of Welsh Missionary Thomas Jones led to the pioneering of the Khasi alphabet, literacy and literature.
Syiem also announced that the Council will sanction an amount of Rs 25 lakh through the 15th Finance Commission for extension of the building of the school.
On the occasion, the school also felicitated its teachers.
Deputy CM Tynsong also released the souvenir of the quasquicentennial celebration on the day.
It may be mentioned that the decision to set up the school was taken during the first meeting of the Mawkhar Sub District on January 28 and 29 in the year 1950 at Mawkhar Presbyterian Church.
In this meeting, the first managing committee of the school was constituted comprising HS Jyrwa (Convener), H Philip, S Marbaniang, Moshondro and L Shullai.
Prior to 1960, only one teacher was engaged in the school, and later additional teachers were appointed, according to the requirement of the school.
The further increase in student numbers from adjacent areas made it difficult to accommodate all of them in a limited space. The situation compelled the Sub District Education Committee in 1964 to make an appeal to the Mawkhar Sub District to grant financial assistance to acquire land for the school expansion.
The Sub District on its part responded to the need and acquired a plot of land (the present site of the school) measuring around 15,336 square feet at a cost of Rs 18,000 from its owner (L) Bettymai Rumnong.
In the same year, the construction of an Assam-type school building, on the new plot of land, started in a phase-wise manner. In the year 1966, when one classroom was completed, the school was upgraded to the Middle English School Section, beginning with Class IV, having 9 students.
The government granted opening permission to the school for Class VIII in the year 2000 and accorded ex-post-facto opening permission for Class IX and X on March, 2007.
Provisional recognition came into effect from April 24, 2009, followed by full-fledged recognition from the Meghalaya Board of School Education on June 19, 2015.