Meghalaya government seeks Centre’s intervention on various education-related issues

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Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and education minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday called on union minister for human resource development Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in Delhi.

The duo sought the Centre’s intervention on different education-related issues pertaining to the state.

On the Draft National Education Policy, Rymbui apprised Pokriyal that restructuring the entire educational facilities in Meghalaya would be a difficult exercise.

“It would put a lot of financial burden as 50 per cent of the schools in Meghalaya are being run by minority organisations,” Rymbui added.

The education minister also urged the centre that minority institutions should be allowed to manage the school managing committees through their sponsoring bodies.

“This should be done so as not to dilute their sacrifice and initiatives taken especially in the elementary section,” added Rymbui.

He also said that restructuring the school curriculum and pedagogy in a new 5+3+3+4 design will entail additional manpower.

“Specific subject teachers would have to be appointed for teaching from classes IX to XII,” the minister further added.

“Unless a special scheme is rolled out for recruiting language teachers teaching classical and foreign languages in schools, colleges and universities, the entire exercise would be a difficult one,” added Rymbui.

Issues of stand-alone teacher Institution like B.Ed and DIET was also discussed as it is very difficult for the college or DIET to integrate with other institution where The HRD Minister that the matter will be discussed.

Rymbui also raised the issue of D.El.Ed programme conducted by National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

He informed that the trainees from 2013-15, 14-16 and 16-18 were yet to receive their mark sheets and original certificates.

He also informed that the results for the exam conducted by NIOS in May 2019, where the original certificate and mark sheets of the on-line batch yet to be received by the successful candidate.

Pokhriyal assured CM Sangma and Rymbui that the matters will be taken up and necessary interventions will be made.

On Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rymbui pointed out that the HRD ministry had committed to releasing a central share of Rs. 253.49 cr against Rs. 523.36 cr sanctioned by PAB 2018-19.

“However, the actual release has been of Rs. 237.846 cr, with a deficit of Rs. 15.644 cr,” added Rymbui.

Minister Rymbui also apprised Pokriyal that for 2019-20 there was a shortfall of Rs. 145.147 cr for implementation of SSA.

He further said that the centre had committed to releasing Rs. 348.653 cr. instead of PAB 2019-20 approved the allocation of Rs. 523.53 cr.

He said that due to a shortfall of funds released by the ministry, the state has been facing difficulties for the implementation of SSA.

The CM and the education minister urged the centre to look into the matter.

On implementation of 9 model schools in Meghalaya, Rymbui said that funds for the centrally sponsored schools were released in 2011.

“However, the project was discontinued in 2015 and the financial burden was given to the state,” he further added.

Rymbui urged the centre to reconsider the Model School Scheme for Meghalaya and ensure completion of the schools, which were initiated in the state.

Rymbui also expressed problems for local aspiring students due to restricted reservation policy in institutes like North Eastern Regional Institute of Education (NERIE), English and Foreign Language University (EFLU), IIM Shillong, NEIGRIHMS, etc.

He pointed that NERIE has only 3 seats reserved for Meghalaya out of 50 seats in the BEd course.

He urged the Centre to increase seat reservation for Meghalaya in NERIE and requested to reserve quota for the state in EFLU Shillong Campus.

Pokhriyal assured Sangma and Rymbui that the matters will be looked into.