By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 5: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has described the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Meghalaya as a major challenge and a significant opportunity for transformative change in the education system.
He said that while the NEP 2020 is a central policy aimed at improving the education framework across the country, each state faces its own distinct challenges in adapting it.
He noted that Meghalaya, with its unique social and institutional diversity, must find ways to harness the policy’s potential to bring about meaningful reforms.
Rymbui pointed out that the state’s education landscape includes multiple stakeholders—linguistic groups, minority institutions, community-run schools, private institutions, and government schools, each with its own structure and priorities.
This diversity, he said, makes implementation more complex, but also underscores the need for an inclusive approach where every section of society has a voice and equal access to educational opportunities.
Rymbui acknowledged that the process of implementing the policy is far from easy, but expressed optimism that with time and concerted effort, Meghalaya will be able to align itself with the vision of the NEP.
He emphasised the need to seize this opportunity to transform the state’s education system in line with the broader national goal envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring qualitative change in education across India.
He reiterated that the government is committed to ensuring that the implementation of the policy becomes not just a procedural exercise, but a step towards inclusive, equitable, and transformative education for all sections of society.
At the same time, Rymbui called for greater community ownership in the functioning of government schools, stressing that the lack of accountability and local participation remains one of the biggest hurdles in improving the state’s education system.
He observed that despite a mandate requiring every educational institution to have a managing committee, most government schools suffer because no one takes ownership of their functioning.
He said that without community involvement, schools remain vulnerable to neglect and misuse. “Until and unless the community takes ownership, some people will always try to take advantage,” he cautioned.
He said the government is introducing digital infrastructure measures to ensure regular teacher attendance and accountability, asserting that it is the right of every child to receive proper education. The Minister urged citizens to report cases of proxy teachers so that immediate action can be taken, underlining that collective vigilance and cooperation are vital to maintaining the integrity of the system.
He appealed to parents, local leaders, and the wider community to take active responsibility for the schools in their areas. Only through joint efforts, he said, can the state bring about lasting improvements in the quality of education.
Addressing concerns about the availability of education, Rymbui said he does not see deprivation in terms of access, though he admitted that the delivery mechanism may be flawed in certain areas.
He emphasised that the government is working to strengthen systems and ensure free and compulsory education for every child.
Rymbui further pointed out that as the population expands and new habitations emerge every five years, there may be gaps or challenges in service delivery.
However, he maintained that the government is moving steadily to bridge these gaps through better monitoring, digital tools, and renewed community participation.
