By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: HSPDP legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Wednesday expressed apprehension that the Education system in the State would suffer a major setback if the Catholic Missionaries decide to close down their schools due to any failure on the part of the Government to bring an amendment on the composition of the School Managing Committees (SMCs) as per the RTE Act.
“Many of the Catholic Missionaries schools have threatened to pull out from the Education System if there is no amendment to the composition of the SMCs as per Section 21 of the RTE Act. I really do not know what would be the consequences if the Government fails to take steps to amend this particular section of the Act,” Basaiawmoit said during Question Hour in the Assembly on Wednesday.
In reply, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Education, Prof RC Laloo, informed that the State Government is aware of the situation. “The Union Government has been very generous in addressing the concern of the State Government. The SMCs would only have an advisory role in case of religious minority schools,” Prof Laloo said.
Stating that the role of the SMCs would be advisory in nature, Prof Laloo said that the reservation policy in religious minority institutions have been adhered to.
To a supplementary question of the HSPDP legislator, Prof Laloo said that the State Education Policy is in its final drafting stage.
“The delay is because the Government is incorporating various provisions of the RTE Act in the Education Policy,” the minister said.
