Thrust on health, education to continue: Mukul

From A Correspondent

Tura, Jan 9: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said on Tuesday that his government would continue to put thrust on social sector, particularly health and education, which would ensure unprecedented progress in the State.

Sangma made the remark while iugurating the newly-constructed Williamgar Polytechnic Institute in East Garo Hills, which would be second polytechnic institute in Garo Hills, apart from the newly-laid foundation stone for Ampati Engineering College and College of Urban Planning & Architecture.

He told the gathering that the government has accorded priority to the education sector, which has also led to the establishment of the first State-sponsored university – Captain Williamson Sangma Technical University.

“The government has a challenge to ensure that education ultimately provides employability and as per the demand mapping of knowledge and skill is being made to ensure space for employment,” he said.

He informed the audience that the Education department has been instructed to map emerging opportunities so that the youth of Meghalaya are not on the crossroads looking for jobs. “We should not copy and follow conventiol courses, but should endeavour to set a new trend and provide necessary skills which are job-driven,” he added.

As dates for the Assembly election draws near, the Chief Minister, who is on a last-minute State-wide iuguration spree, stated that the beginning of growth and development has started, and which has to continue.

“Different States in the country boast of technical universities, institutes and medical colleges. We have just made a humble beginning, but we are on the right track to ensure accelerated growth and development,” he claimed.

School Education and Literacy Minister Deborah C Marak, who accompanied Sangma, said, “The government has been able to ensure visible development in the past 10 years under the visiory leadership of the Chief Minister who has worked hard to ensure that seeds of development spread to different nook and corner of the State.”

Sangma and Marak also distributed tablets to students of Class XII of Williamgar during the programme.

The Chief Minister further announced that the tablet distribution to students, which were limited to Class XII students, will also be given to Class XI students from this year onwards.