Frank talk by the CM and Education Minister
Editor,
We welcome the frank statement of the Chief Minister “Keep politics away from educational institutes” as reported on the front page of the Shillong Times, Sep 14, 2023. In seconding this statement, the Education Minister also called for the separation of politics from education.
The CM also recounted his conversation with the former Education Minister, Manas Chaudhuri who urged the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020. Manas Chaudhuri was the first education minister to conceive a state education policy. Being a member of that group, I can vouch for the commendable commitment that ultimately resulted in the first education policy for the state.
It is regrettable that the various bodies that create and implement education policy for higher education in the state seem to have reached an impasse. It is always easy to find faults, deficiencies and loopholes in the system, if that is what one is looking for. At the same time, if all parties take a constructive stance, a good beginning can definitely be made. Ultimately it is a positive attitude, and well-meaning leadership that can win the day for a good cause.
NEP 2020 is a good cause. It is futile to claim that it is an ‘imported’ product from the USA. So what? If it will bring about development and livelihoods, surely that is a good thing. It is fashionable for left-leaning academicians to decry liberal arts education as being a tool of capitalism. Has this ideology brought prosperity and jobs for our youth? Maybe such ideologues would like Meghalaya to continue to be poor. We have to be more pragmatic in solving our social problems.
While NEP 2020 promotes a liberal arts approach to higher education, it has noteworthy components of vocational, value-added and interdisciplinary education. Interdisciplinarity specifically calls for a multipronged approach to solving a social problem, such as the Sustainability Development Goals.
It is true that NEP 2020 has certain inbuilt challenges, which have been rightly talked about. But college teachers are knowledgeable and well-rounded persons. Surely individuals with a postgraduate or doctoral degree can teach beyond their subject. Some of the subjects like “Understanding India” can surely be taught by any teacher. We need not be restricted to the rigid silo of our discipline.
The pioneers of Montessorian education in India, Rabindranath Tagore and Gijubhai Badheka, spoke firstly of kindness to children. The welfare and future of our students must be our priority.
Perhaps the various groups in the mix of things can organize an academic conference to see how we can make small beginnings and take graded steps to achieving the goals of NEP 2020. We owe it to the youth of our state, who so often have been buffeted by forces beyond their control, and are forced to study in a broken system.
Yours etc.,
Glenn C. Kharkongor,
Via email
Educators left to fend for themselves
Editor,
Yesterday’s news headlines screamed: ‘Keep politics away from our sacred educational institutions.’ It struck me as profoundly perplexing, given that this plea came from a teacher-turned-politician. Equally intriguing is our Chief Minister’s penchant for conjuring arbitrary figures, such as 400-500 crores, to fund the implementation of the NEP. I long for the day when the public demands a meticulous breakdown of these numbers, seeking to uncover whether they fall woefully short, extravagantly excessive, or harmoniously matching the requirements. Such transparency would shine a light on the depth of consideration and dedication invested in resolving the financial intricacies of the NEP implementation.
What stings the most is witnessing politicians cry foul when their agendas are challenged. In contrast, the valour of teachers, bravely defending their principles, raises alarm bells for a state accustomed to seeking substantial handouts from the central government, ranging from essential provisions like water and seeds for farmers to lavish luxury cars, helicopters, and opulent cruises for the ruling elite. The web of falsehoods spun in an era of cancel culture, is aimed squarely at the steadfast teaching community, and it serves as a stark reminder of society’s tendency to follow without questioning.
Yet, what leaves me truly astonished is the recent statement by the Education Minister regarding the advertised positions at two venerable institutions, St. Anthony’s College and St. Mary’s College. With close ties to both the teaching and non-teaching staff within these hallowed halls of learning, I’ve come to discern that even if, by some miraculous turn of fate, all the present positions were to be vacated overnight, their collective count would still fall significantly short of the lofty numbers proclaimed by the minister. The true purpose behind his statement remains veiled in mystery, yet one certainty emerges: he may have been a lackluster educator, seeking his intellectual fulfilment (read financial gain) solely within the realm of politics.
The conclusion that appears before me is that educators must champion their own rights and their own rights alone. It’s a sad truth that a substantial segment of the general populace, and regrettably, even some within the teaching fraternity, stumble in the shadows of ignorance, grappling with the most rudimentary concepts even when elucidated with the clarity of a diagram. It pains me to admit that, in the end, we face a stark choice: submission to the prevailing powers or face the ominous prospect of oblivion. This reality paints a dystopian panorama, sombre and undeniably real, marking the edge of an era’s precipice.
Yours etc.,
I. Kharkongor
Via email
Atrocious road conditions
Editor,
I wish to draw the attention of the present government to the Khlehriat road in East Jaintia Hills which is now in a much worse situation than in the previous year. I have been posted in Meghalaya rural bank, Khlehriat Branch since the past two years and travel to Shillong every weekend and on government holidays as my home is in Shillong. As can be imagined I face a horrific time travelling on this road due to the large craters on the road which can often prove dangerous and this starts right from the National Highway from Jowai to Khliehriat and being such a busy market area heavy vehicles are stuck in these craters in the middle of the road. This in turn creates heavy traffic jams thereby creating unnecessary delay for us in reaching our workplace.
The Government should pay attention to this problem which might appear small but for us who use the road on a daily basis life is being affected also because I stay in a rented accommodation near the market and have to use this road regularly.
The reason I bring this to the attention of the media is because you are the fourth pillar of democracy and should actually be highlighting these problems on behalf of the public.
Yours etc.,
Mukesh Sharma,
Via email