By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 14: At a time when several states have already achieved 100 per cent coverage of students under the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR), Meghalaya is struggling to get its students registered under this specialised identification system. Presently, the state has a dismal performance with only around 2 per cent of its students registered under APAAR.
APAAR is part of the “One Nation, One Student ID” programme, launched in alignment with the National Education Policy of 2020, providing students with a unique identification to access and transfer academic records seamlessly across institutions.
The issue was discussed during a review meeting of the Education Department held on Friday. Secretary of the Education Department, Swapnil Tembe, emphasized that every student in the country is supposed to have an APAAR ID, which remains valid through their college studies.
He acknowledged the slow adoption rate in Meghalaya and urged schools to expedite the process of generating APAAR IDs for their students.
Previously, students had a permanent education number, which has now been rebranded as APAAR for greater convenience. Tembe highlighted that APAAR enables students to store their academic documents online, ensuring a more robust and accessible system. He also noted that while some states have already reached full coverage, Meghalaya needs to accelerate efforts to catch up.
In another key development, the government is set to fill approximately 500 vacancies in the education sector. Last year, around 1,000 vacancies were filled in lower primary schools. For the upcoming vacancies, the roster has been completed, and draft advertisements are awaiting approval.
The push for APAAR implementation and recruitment of new teachers are expected to enhance the state’s educational framework, ensuring efficiency and accessibility for students and educators alike.
