NONGPOH, Oct 14: A school in Mawhati has been forced to conduct classes under the gallery of the Mawhati village football ground due to the lack of proper classrooms, particularly for students of Classes 6 to 10.
The institute, known as the Mawhati Rural Secondary School (MRSS), was established in 2006 under the management of the Umsohlait Parish with the vision of providing education to children in the area, especially those from financially weaker families who cannot afford to send their children to distant schools.
School headmaster Jubes Lyngdoh informed media persons that the Umsohlait Parish handed over the management of the school to the Mawhati village authority in December 2016. Since 2017, the school has been managed entirely by the village and currently has around 328 students.
He explained that the school initially functioned only up to the upper-primary level but, over time, there were continuous requests from parents to extend classes up to the secondary level. After careful deliberation, the school committee and the village decided to fulfil this demand, as many children from poor families found it difficult to continue their studies outside the area.
However, since the village took over the management, the school has received little to no government support, except for some limited help from the local MLA. Lyngdoh lamented that much still needs to be done to improve the school’s infrastructure.
He then made a fervent appeal to the state government to intervene and provide the necessary assistance so that students in the area could pursue their education in a better learning environment.
To help ease the situation, the Mawhati Sport, Social and Cultural Club (MSSCC) on Tuesday organised an inter-village football tournament to raise funds for constructing new classrooms for the school.
The event is being held on the same football ground where the school currently holds classes under the gallery.
The football tournament was inaugurated by Never Makdoh, sports secretary of the Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation (central body), in the presence of Melan Jarain, president of MSSCC, along with several elders and residents of the area.
In his speech, Makdoh expressed deep concern that despite being established many years ago, the school still lacks adequate classrooms, forcing teachers and students to hold classes under the gallery. He said such conditions often discourage both teachers and students from continuing with enthusiasm.
Makdoh remarked that running a school is not an easy task and comes with many challenges. While some people encourage and support such efforts, others criticise and demoralise them.
He then urged the school management, teachers and members of the MSSCC not to lose hope but to continue working with determination.
Quoting the words of Khasi poet Soso Tham, he said, “Khmih samla hakhmat jong phi, ba phin tip shano phin jam, don u khlur ba lam lynti sha ki jaka jongka nam”, reminding them that the youths are the pathfinders towards a brighter future.
He further added that the school serves as a guiding light for the students of the area and called upon parents to extend their full support to the teachers and school committee.
He assured that he and other local leaders would continue to stand by the school and contribute in any way possible to address its challenges.
