Streamline education sector: KSU to Government
A Correspondent
Shillong, May 2: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), has sought the State Government’s intervention for improvement of the education scenario in the State.
In this respect, the KSU Education Cell today met Education Minister L Rymbui and apprised him on various drawbacks and loopholes ranging from the exorbitant increase in the fee structure by some educational institutions, especially the private ones, the frequent change of syllabus for different levels (class I-VI) leading to confusion and disorientation to the students’ community, beside many other issues concerning education.
“The Minister assured us to look into the fee structure charge by various schools which should match according to the facilities and should include the disaster management rules, parking space etc,” Readyon Stone Nongrum, Chairman, KSU Education Cell told reporters.
Informing that the Minister had also assured that he would do the follow up with regards to the frequent change of the syllabus in schools at different levels, Nongrum informed that the Minister also assured to set up the State Council for higher and technical education to check on the different price tags put up by different schools for the purchase of school books and uniforms from selected retailers.
“The Minister also assured us to set up regulatory board for schools just like the Meghalaya Private Universities Regulatory Board (MPURB) to prevent fake university,” he added.
He further informed that with regards to the detection of spelling and grammatical errors in some textbooks prescribed by the Meghalaya Board of School Education, the Minister informed that he will set up a review board by next year so that these kinds of errors will not be repeated.
Informing that the Minister also said that the government is on the task to streamline and strengthen the community colleges, he said that the KSU also demanded the government for the up-gradation of the existing polytechnic institutions into full fledged Engineering institutions.
“With regards to the coaching cum counseling centers for different competitive examinations in all district headquarters of the State, Rymbui told the KSU that the Government will soon set up centres for NEET, AIE, CAT coaching including as well as centres for civil service examinations,” Nongrum informed.
Stating that it is disheartening to note that at a time when the demands for inclusion of the Khasi language in the 8th Schedule is gaining utmost momentum, the MBOSE belittle the Khasi language by demoting its status from a compulsory subject to an elective subject, he said.
Meanwhile, with regards to the appointment of the contractual teachers in many Government-run schools especially in the Lower Primary section, which is being done based on the recommendations of the respective Managing Committees, the Union demanded the government for normal recruitment pattern of regular teachers which includes advertisement, written examination, personal interview and other necessary criteria.