Stop Favouritism in Textbooks Selection
Editor,
I write to draw public attention to worrying practices in the approval and distribution of MBOSE school textbooks that are affecting the quality and fairness of education in our state. Over the past two years, MBOSE approvals appear to favour books from only one or two publishers, leaving many local publishers without any opportunity to contribute to state education. Several of these publishers operate under multiple firm names while being controlled by the same proprietor or family, creating an unhealthy monopoly. This practice should be stopped in the larger interest of other local publishers.
It has also come to light that the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has been placing certain titles for free distribution that are not part of the MBOSE‑prescribed syllabus. Supplying non‑syllabus books through government schemes unfairly benefits selected publishers and confuses teachers and students about the official curriculum.
These practices, if allowed to continue, risk lowering the standard of education in Meghalaya and could negatively affect our state’s standing in national performance measures (PGI). Transparency, fairness, and accountability in textbook approval and procurement are essential to protect students’ interests and support honest local publishers who genuinely want to contribute to the state’s academic excellence. Favouritism towards a particular publisher will only discourage other local publishers and writers. It is also important that, when selecting books from publishers, their antecedents and backgrounds should be thoroughly vetted. Some publishers have earned a disrepute for promoting piracy and selling duplicate books in the past.
Yours etc.;
Name withheld on request
Via email
The Dirtiest Lane in Jowai Town
Editor,
The lane which surrounds Biar Mynthong also called Tympang playground, is now the dirtiest lane in Jowai Town. In fact, I do not want to pen down my writing in the newspaper but I am forced to do so as most of us Mynthong people have to pass through this lane come what may. Perhaps people from other localities of the town have not passed through this lane. If such people pass through this lane they will be surprised to see that such a lane exists. In fact, the whole of Jowai Town is full of garbage randomly dumped in areas like Iawshyiap, Iaw Warim, Iaw thymme.
Compared to the above, the lane fenced by Tympang Club is the dirtiest of all. When passing through this lane one has to cover his or her nose and mouth because of the foul odour. One day, I met the Rangbah Shnong of Tympang Club. When asked about the dirty condition of this lane, he told me that the Club would remove the fence. Again, on July 6 while coming from Punjab National Bank I asked him the same question and he gave me the same reply. Let’s see when action will be taken. As the saying goes, “Life and death is in the power of the tongue.”
Also, during lunch break in the nearby schools there are boys who enjoy their smoke. Some take advantage of this concerned lane. There are young men who also inject drugs as told by some reliable person.
Again, in Iaw Shyiap, there are toilets provided yet most settlers choose this place to urinate or pass excreta; even the dogs follow suit. Above all this is a very scary place at night. In this place, we will find all kinds of garbage thrown by people from every other locality. If only the District Administration puts up CCTV cameras then those who throw garbage and use the place as an open toilet can be punished by Tympang Club as the authority lies with the Club. Over the years we have witnessed many events such as Fetes, Church Meetings, Trade Fairs etc., No doubt Tympang Club earns a lot of money from these festivities. But what does the Club do with the money earned? If the Tympang Club could employ two chowkidars there or install street lights for the safety of the passers-by it would be of great help.
Till date, we do not have a proper place to dump our garbage ever since the one at Mynkjai has been disallowed as a garbage dump. When other villages are approached for a dumping ground they all disagree with one voice. It pains me to see this sordid development in our beloved Jowai Town. When I contacted the CEO of Jowai Municipality and asked him whether it is the duty of the Municipality to clean the garbage strewn everywhere, the Chairman told me that once or twice when a lot of garbage has been dumped at a place, it is collected in bulk. Also, when citizens of Jowai asked the CEO, they got the impression that Tympang Club was solely responsible for cleaning this area. Are the authorities listening or will this complaint reach deaf ears yet again? I had voiced this issue twice already, so those in charge of garbage collection and disposal, kindly please respond.
Yours etc.,
Omarga Laloo,
Mynthong
