By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 13: The ongoing controversy over the implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020 took an interesting turn on Wednesday after Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma alleged that some members of the teachers’ union (read as Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association) opposing the NEP have affiliations with a specific political party. He also took a jibe at “external factors” like political pressure and influence in any decision making of the government.
The CM was duly seconded by Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma who urged everybody to keep politics out of educational institutes and called for the separation of politics from education to maintain quality and safeguard the state’s interests.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion of the concluding function of the centenary celebrations of Laban Bengalee Boys Higher Secondary School, the CM said, “People resorting to dharna here, halla there and MLAs coming and telling me what to do…These are things that are important but somewhere along the line we need to realize that the crux out here is the students. Our decisions should be driven by what is good for them.”
The remarks by Conrad and his cabinet colleague assume significance considering the ongoing tussle in the state between the NEHU Vice Chancellor and the MCTA over the NEP.
The CM also narrated a casual chat he engaged in with former Education Minister, Manas Chaudhuri who was also a guest at the centenary celebrations about the implementation of the NEP.
Recounting the conversation, he said NEP has to be implemented in spite of the financial challenges.
“Even if we are being conservative, we are looking at Rs 400-500 crore which we need to invest to transit into the NEP system. We have to do it and we have to move forward. We may not be able to do it immediately, but it’s a process,” the CM mentioned.
Rakkam, who was a former teacher himself before entering politics, mentioned how he is witnessing the “destruction” of the sanctity of institutions over politics.
This also comes amidst a controversy over a school in Jaintia Hills resorting to playing the election song of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) in the school campus during Teachers’ Day, following which the school principal was reprimanded.
The minister also disclosed that the government recently advertised for 100 teaching and non-teaching positions in St. Mary’s College and another 119 posts in St. Anthony’s College, both of which were deficit colleges.
He also highlighted that the state government has been spending approximately Rs 5.40 crore each month to support faculty members at St. Anthony’s College, and more so for other colleges.
Asked if the government was contemplating action against uncooperative teachers, Rakkam stressed the importance of respecting teachers and said, “Teaching is the one of the most respectable professions, and the integrity and admiration for teachers is of paramount importance. We should not give any direction or advice to them.”
Instead, he suggested that decisions on such matters should be left to the management committees and heads of the institutes.