Mukul lays foundation of ADB-funded school
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, May 31: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma today laid the foundation stone for construction of new school building for Hawakha Higher Secondary School, Tura under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project - “Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya”.
It may be mentioned that the project is the first of its kind in the country which focuses on improvement of secondary education and skill development.
Under the project, scores of government-aided secondary and higher secondary schools in the State are being upgraded to improve the overall learning environment for the students.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister expressed happiness for being able to bring such first-ever social sector project for the State to address the critical gaps in the education sector but said that he was upset because the project was moving very slowly and urged upon the implementing agencies to ensure speedy completion of the project.
“We need to pull up our socks and ensure fructification of the objectives that we have set for our children”, he said.
While congratulating those students who came out in flying colours despite limitations in the recently declared SSLC and HSSLC results, Dr. Sangma, however, was pained to see some schools, particularly in the rural areas, drew blank in the results.
He said that the huge gap in pass percentage was an offshoot of disparities between rural and urban schools.
Dr Sangma also questioned the kind of challenge that the State would face if all 50,000-odd students who appeared for SSLC exams this year were to pass the examition, due to lack of infrastructure and institutions for higher studies.
Recalling the fact that Education department earlier used to be just “a salary giving department” without any developmental projects, the Chief Minister highlighted a number of schemes taken up by the state Government over the years.
“But even after all these years we are still struggling to ensure that children get the right ambience in their place of study. We talk of smart classrooms and computers – but what is the use of them when you do not have the required infrastructure – the buildings and proper classrooms?” Dr Sangma asked.
Therefore “Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya” project was has been taken up by the State Government with the funding from ADB to address these kind of challenges and critical gaps in education, he added, saying the programme, which is exclusive to the state of Meghalaya, is set to be replicated in some African tions.
