Group exhorts govt to address key hurdles in state’s education sector

SHILLONG, April 4: The Meghalaya Schools Welfare Development Association (MSWDA-CB) has submitted a series of urgent proposals to the state government, seeking reforms and financial support to bolster the state’s education sector.
In a formal appeal, the association outlined five key demands, addressing school categorisation, financial aid, primary school infrastructure, teacher training and student welfare programmes.
At the heart of their appeal is the need to streamline schools and categorise them effectively. The association referenced government directives aiming to consolidate schools operating under different managements within the same premises.
The association also advocated for a unified system where such institutions function as a single entity with one UDISE code and management structure. This, the association argued, will ensure efficient governance and funding distribution whilst aligning with the Meghalaya State Education Policy (MSEP) of 2018.
It also urged the state government to establish a uniform grant-in-aid system, proposing a salary structure similar to that of deficit schools.
Financial support for secondary schools is another pressing concern the association flagged in its appeal.
It maintained that while several institutions have obtained permission to operate, many remain ineligible for government funding despite multiple recommendations from the Directorate of School Education and Literacy.
The association is also pushing for grant-in-aid approval and the establishment of additional secondary schools in rural areas where the nearest facility is over five kilometers away, in accordance with the MSEP guidelines.
Referring to the hurdles faced by primary schools in Meghalaya, the association highlighted the urgent need for additional teaching staff.
With the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, primary education has been restructured into foundational and preparatory stages, increasing the number of students. However, the teacher-to-student ratio has remained unchanged, with only two teachers per school in many areas, the association said, calling for more faculty members, including dedicated pre-primary teachers, to meet the growing demand for quality education, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
Flagging concerns about in-service teacher education, the association said a significant number of teachers in Meghalaya remain untrained, a situation that undermines the educational standards of Meghalaya.
It then urged the state government to expand access to training programmes such as B.Ed and D.El.Ed.
Further, grievances were voiced regarding teachers who completed the D.El.Ed program through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) but have yet to receive their certificates and mark sheets.
The association appealed to the government to resolve this issue by liaising with NIOS authorities.
Another critical demand raised by the association was the extension of student uniform grants and school maintenance funds to all school categories, including private aided and unaided institutions.
Currently, it maintained, these benefits are provided only to government and SSA schools, leaving many students without necessary financial assistance.
The association accentuated the importance of equitable support to foster a holistic education system that benefits all students, regardless of the type of school they attend.
It may be mentioned that during a recent meeting at Khasi National Durbar Hall, Mawkhar Shillong, the association reiterated its commitment to improving Meghalaya’s education sector.