Assault on state’s educational institutions; move paves way for widespread privatisation: Opposition party
SHILLONG, July 6: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Sunday came out strongly against the proposed Meghalaya Education Grant (MEG), accusing the MDA government of orchestrating a deliberate assault on the state’s educational institutions and paving the way for widespread privatisation.
VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh slammed the government for the move and called for rationalising and reforming the education system.
“It is a known fact that the deficit schools and colleges in Meghalaya are the most significant contributors towards education, yet this government, instead of strengthening or reforming this system for a better outcome, wishes to completely do away with it, which is uncalled for,” Myrboh said.
He warned of consequences if the proposal is implemented: “imagine the condition of Meghalaya without deficit schools and colleges.”
The VPP leader condemned the move to cut down categories of institutions based on, what he termed, “negative equality principle” and alleged a dangerous shift in the government’s agenda.
“The VPP foresees that in the guise of reform, this government is attempting to privatise education which is anti-people. If MEG is implemented, the poor section of society will be directly and adversely affected,” he said.
Accusing the government of systemically neglecting the education sector, Myrboh said many government schools are functioning without regular teachers. He added that the deficit schools and colleges are facing a similar problem due to inordinate delays in teachers’ appointments.
“The retired teachers are reduced to the status of beggars as their rightful dues are not released even years after retirement,” he alleged. The situation for active staff is no better, he said.
“Presently, the deficit colleges are unable to pay salaries to the teachers due to the heartless and unmindful withholding of the grant-in-aid by the government,” he pointed out.
Calling the current scenario “a complete betrayal by the MDA government to the hopes and aspirations of the people of the state,” Myrboh asserted that the VPP would not let the matter rest.
“The VPP promises to reverse the anti-learning and anti-people educational policy of this government. Officers responsible for such a mess are under the watch of the party and the people,” he said.
He accused the MDA of being obsessed with optics rather than substance.
“The MDA government, instead of focusing on real issues affecting the people, is busy in image-building for the Chief Minister through wasteful expenditure on advertisements with little outcome,” the VPP leader said.
“Splashing money without a pro-people objective and strategy will only put the state on the path of irreversible financial crisis while ensuring private gains for those in or close to the government,” he added.
