By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 1: The state cabinet on Thursday approved the expansion and upgradation of higher secondary education infrastructure in Meghalaya, targeting both capacity constraints and stream-specific deficiencies.
Briefing the media, Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh underlined the pressing need for systemic educational reform.
“Need to upgrade the quality of education in our state. There is a deficit in intake capacity in higher secondary which stands at 12,000 seats and there is also disproportionate proportion of higher secondary schools, mostly in urban areas,” he said pointing to a skewed concentration of higher secondary institutions in urban zones and a glaring shortfall in seat availability.
To address this, the cabinet decided to upgrade six government secondary schools to the higher secondary level.
The schools identified for this transition are Rymbai in East Jaintia Hills, Umthlong Nongkhliew (to include arts and science streams), Nongtalang Secondary School, Tirot Sing Memorial Secondary School, Tura Public School and Jowai Public School. The move is expected to immediately create around 9,000 additional seats bridging a significant part of the state’s current deficit.
Additionally, the government plans to introduce new streams in various higher secondary schools to ensure balanced subject offerings.
The science stream will be introduced at Tirot Sing Memorial Higher Secondary School, Nongkhlaw, while the commerce stream will be launched at Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Tura, Dalu Secondary School in West Garo Hills, Baghmara Higher Secondary School, Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Jowai and Sokha Higher Secondary School.
The arts stream, currently unavailable in several locations, will now be introduced in Jirang Higher Secondary School, Resubelpara; and Maharam Higher Secondary School, Mawkyrwat. Moreover, both science and commerce streams will be added to United Kharkutta Higher Secondary School in North Garo Hills and Mallangkona Higher Secondary School.
Eleven existing higher secondary schools will be enhanced through the addition of new streams. The financial implication of the educational overhaul is estimated at around Rs 10 crore annually.
Meanwhile, the cabinet also gave its approval to Meghalaya Ayush Medical Service Rules and creation of the post of a Director of Civil Defence.
“In the Directorate of Civil Defence and Home Guards, we have decided to amend their service rules to facilitate the creation of the post of Director of Civil Defence which is now being handled by Commandant General of Home Guards,” said Lyngdoh.
“We have decided that in order to upscale the performance of the department of Civil Defence and Home Guards, a post of Director of Civil Defence will now be deemed as a separate post and we will incorporate this post to also facilitate the promotion of Joint Directors, who have served for a period of not less than 3 years to be upgraded to the post of Director of Civil Defence,” the minister said.
He was confident this will motivate and encourage officers who have acquired experience and knowledge during their long tenure of service in the department.
He said the cabinet approved the Meghalaya Ayush Medical Service Rules as traditional system of medicine like Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy have gained traction.