CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG: With higher secondary schools bursting at the seams after an unprecedented spike in rural pass percentages, the Meghalaya government is racing against time to prevent a full-blown admission crisis. Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma on Thursday informed a bold, structured push to introduce morning classes across packed institutions, as Deputy Commissioners in every district have been tasked with urgent consultations with Head of various institutions to expand intake capacity. From fast-tracking upgrades in government schools to creating additional shifts, the state is pulling every lever to accommodate over 20,000 new students this academic year.
“Today our Commissioner Secretary Education is meeting all the head of the institutions in Shillong and suppose in North Garo Hills, last year the pass percentage was around 30 percent but this year it crossed 80 percent. Similarly in South Garo Hills it was 35 percent pass percentage but this year more than 88 percent, so the pressure will be there,” Sangma said.
He acknowledged that Shillong, where the pass percentage typically hovers between 70 and 80 percent, is less likely to face a severe crunch.
To manage the spike in student demand, Sangma said strategic consultations are underway with institutional heads and district authorities.
“We want to upgrade all the government secondary schools to the higher secondary schools. We are encouraging and motivating all the Grant–in–Aid institutions to upgrade facilities to increase more intake, introduce morning section. In some of the Government institutions we will introduce morning section,” he said.
He confirmed that all government secondary schools, barring four, have already been upgraded. Sangma also noted that district officials have been instructed to work closely with school heads to chart practical solutions.
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