TURA, Nov 20: Garo Hills-based group Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK), on Wednesday, sought the creation of deficit and government posts for Garo teachers and lecturers working in educational institutions of Shillong.
The organisation, on the same day, also shot off a memorandum in this regard to Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma.
“Shillong, being a prominent educational hub of the state, hosts a significant number of Garo students pursuing their academic goals. Despite the large Garo student community, we have observed a glaring lack of academic resources and faculty members proficient in the Garo language due to absence of any Garo teacher or lecturers in the reputed institutions of Shillong,” it said.
As per the organisation, the situation not only undermined the status of Garo as one of the official languages of Meghalaya, but also limited opportunities for students to learn and appreciate their linguistic and cultural heritage.
“The recognition of Garo as an official language of Meghalaya underscores its cultural and historical importance. It is imperative that our educational institutions, particularly in regions like Shillong, reflect this acknowledgment by integrating Garo language education into their curriculum through qualified educators which can be done through creation deficit and government posts for Garo teachers and lecturers in Shillong’s schools and colleges, while ensuring that sufficient resources are allocated for promoting Garo language and literature as part of the curriculum and facilitating workshops and training programs to encourage aspiring educators to specialise in Garo studies,” it added.
