Planning Board's review meet with Education Department

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, Sept 14: Taking cognizance of the sudden stop of Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) by the Central Government for construction of nine model schools and hostels, the Working Group 3 of the State Planning Board held a review meeting with the Education Department on Thursday on the fincial and physical achievement of the plan scheme projects in the department.

Speaking to reporters after the review meeting, State Planning Board Co Chairman John F Kharshiing said though the department has already taken up the matter with the Centre the latter is yet to respond.

He also informed the media that most of the projects were 70-80% complete and now they are hanging fire due to the sudden decision of the Union government.

The Working Group has also lauded the department for even increasing the salary of teachers, especially SSA teachers, despite the fincial constraints faced by the State in view of the ban on mining.

With regards to implementation of the Mid Day Meal scheme in Meghalaya, Kharshiing said the major challenge in the implementation of the scheme is ensuring the salaries of cooks and helpers who are getting a remuneration of Rs 1000 per month and State government has asked the Central government to revise their salaries.

On training of untrained teachers, the Working Group was informed that the last enrolment of untrained teachers to enroll for training programme has been extended from 15th to 20th September.

The Working Group even asked the State Education Department to lay emphasis on Science and Mathematics subjects as the State government is now facing scarcity of Maths and Science teachers.

It was also informed that all the schools in Meghalaya have been covered under the MIS system, which elimites wrong doings like ghost schools and ghost teachers.

On scholarships, Kharshiing said, “The Central government has taken measures to ensure that a person does not avail scholarships on more than one occasion.”

He, however, added that there are some minor challenges as sometimes students give wrong IFSC code, besides the odd spelling mistakes.

Kharshiing added that in the fincial year 2015-16, 46,588 students in Meghalaya received their scholarships through direct transfer, and the number increased to 54,000 in 2016-17.