From Our Correspondent
MAWKYRWAT, Sep 19: An awareness campaign using road show was held on Tuesday by the State Project Office, Samagra Shiksha, in collaboration with the Station Head of Red FM, South Asia FM LTD, at Mawkyrwat Market, in a bid to provide support and opportunities to youngsters (15-19 years) who had to drop out of school for various reasons by sensitising them on enroling with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to complete their education up to Class XII.
C Wankhar, State Out of School Children Coordinator, State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya, highlighted that the state is grappling with a school dropout rate of 21.7 per cent.
In response, the Centre has introduced the NIOS through the State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya (Samagra Shiksha), also known as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
“The initiative aims to identify and support school dropout children, particularly those from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, by encouraging them to continue their education through NIOS”, she said.
The State Mission Coordinator also conveyed that at present, there are 25 NIOS study centres in Meghalaya, distributed across five districts — East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, Ri-Bhoi, and East Garo Hills.
Additionally, the State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya has put forward a proposal to launch 26 additional study centres in different districts.
Furthermore, she mentioned that an NIOS study centre has been introduced in South West Khasi Hills at Maharam Government Higher Secondary School, Mawkyrwat.
Wankhar encouraged school dropout children to register and enrol themselves at the district’s study centre.
She also urged parents of these children to visit the District Mission Coordinator Office or Block Mission Coordinator Office for online entry, with online registration into NIOS to follow once funds are received from the central government.
“The initiative is open to children aged 15 to 19, offering classes from 9th to 12th grade”, she said.
She added that the State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya, in partnership with Red FM, has been conducting road show awareness campaigns across the state to inform the public about the NIOS platform and to encourage enrolment of dropouts in age group of 15 to 19 years to enrol with NIOS.
Principal of Maharam Government Higher Secondary School, DG Nongsiej, announced the introduction of an NIOS centre at the school, emphasising its potential to benefit the district’s school dropouts.