Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 27: Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma has said the government will try to complete the process of appointing over 1,200 teachers in lower primary and upper primary schools before Christmas.
After meeting the delegation of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Sangma said the government has already scheduled the interview for Meghalaya Teachers’ Eligibility Test (MTET) qualified candidates from November 15, for filling up more than 1,200 vacancies in the government lower primary schools and more than 300-400 upper primary schools across the state.
“For lower primary schools, interviews have been fixed from November 15, 2023 and we will try to complete the process before Christmas and before Christmas we will be able to give appointments to qualified candidates,” he added.
Earlier while speaking to reporters, HYC West Khasi Hills District president Lumlang Kharsyiemlieh said the non-availability of teachers as per student-teacher ratio has immensely affected the education sector in the district of West Khasi Hills and is a grave injustice cause to the students enrolled in these schools. He said the delegation has urged the minister to take appropriate and immediate steps to appoint qualified teachers in all these schools in the district as per norms in place.
He said that there are around 90 government LP schools in the district with student enrollment of about 50 to 100 or more in each school. However, the government has appointed only 1 or 2 teachers in each school and these teachers have to take classes for students from nursery up to class V.
Kharsyiemlieh has also urged the minister to repair the existing government school buildings which are in a dilapidated condition and said, “If left unattended, majority of these schools will not be able to cater to the students in the coming session.”
He also lamented that the government has failed to provide the required furniture and other materials to the majority of the schools.
“In all these schools especially LP Schools, students have to sit in a very uncomfortable position as they have to pack themselves in each bench due to non-availability of proper furniture."
The HYC in its memorandum to the minister has also demanded the state government to consider the appointment of permanent teachers for all subjects in the higher secondary section of the Sib Sing Memorial Government School, which was established in the year 1995 in Nongstoin.
It said no teacher is appointed for the Mathematics subject and other important Arts Subject till date. There are about 6 teachers appointed on Contractual basis and no steps have been taken to appoint permanent teachers. This has greatly affected the students.
“We would also like to inform you that the new Building of the School was formally opened on 17.01.2023 by the Chief Minister of the State but sadly the said building does not have proper electricity connections or be provided with any furniture,” it said while urging immediate action in this regard.
Further, the HYC also demanded the government for construction of a new building for the office of the SDSEO to ensure the best service is provided to the entire district.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 27: The state government will soon take a call on
whether to make mathematics a compulsory subject in school education.
This decision was taken after a majority expressed the need to make mathematics as a compulsory subject during a meeting convened by the state education minister Rakkam A Sangma and Principals of over 30-40 secondary and higher secondary schools at the Secretariat today.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma said that many of the principals have raised concerns on the learning outcome and they have suggested the change of some textbooks to bring them at par with the national standard.
“Many are of the opinion to make mathematics compulsory but as of now, the government is yet to decide on this. We will examine the opinions and suggestions made by the principals,” he said while adding “I also personally feel and many academicians and principals also suggested that mathematics should not be made an optional paper as of now it is best of five out of six (subjects). Therefore, the government will take a decision in due process.”
The education minister said that 90 per cent of the students would opt out of mathematics.
“If we allow it, everybody wants to be in an easy and comfortable
zone. To me personally, if we allow mathematics to be an optional
paper, many students will opt out of it, that is for certain and that
is for sure but today at this generation, going for higher studies
without mathematics is something that is not appreciable but I think we are second to nobody, we can prepare well, we have the same brain with the rest of the globe and I think it is some we should decide and review,” he said.
Sangma further informed that the department has asked the Directorate of Educational Research and Training (DERT) to do research on the performance of the students before making mathematics an optional paper.
“(We want to know) how many students performed well in mathematics (before making it optional) and how many students have opted out of mathematics. All these we will get the data and we have requested the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) and DERT to give us detailed data so that we can better information and better understanding on this matter,” he said.
Further, the minister informed that the principals attending the
meeting also pointed out that the present existing textbooks are too lengthy, many things to read and so the learning outcome is very less.
In this regard, the textbook revision committee will be sitting on
October 31 to discuss the issue.
He said the DERT will also submit its recommendations and proposals before the committee.
“The DERT has been doing the exercise for the last six or seven
months. They are consulting the experts, academicians and students, so we will see what they will recommend,” Sangma said while adding that the DERT will present comparative studies being carried out and its recommendations.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: Four persons were arrested from the two commercial centres in Shillong today for they were caught serving extortion notes to one of the shops in the name of six different organizations.
SP (City) Vivek Syiem said a trap was laid by the special cell of East Khasi Hills police after inputs were received of extortion in commercial centres at Khyndailad and Iewduh.
“Four persons were arrested from police bazar, who were caught serving extortion notes to one of the shops,” he said while informing that a suo-moto case has been registered at Sadar police station against them.
From their possession, police seized three extortion letters of Hynniewtrep People Defense Alliance (HPDA), three extortion receipt books of Hynniewtrep People Defense Alliance (HPDA), two donation receipt slips of United Khasi Movement (UKM), two donation receipt slips of Federation of Khasi United People (FKUP), two donation receipt slips of Confederation of Meghalaya People (CMP), one counterfoil receipt slips of Khun Hynniewtrep Youth Council (KHYC) and two donation receipt slips of Hynniewtrep Youth Regions (HYR) besides one Scooty Aprilla ML05 Q 9828 and four Mobile Phones.
The SP said interrogation is on to ascertain outlets/establishments where extortions notes have been served for registering more cases against the culprits and to nab other persons/groups who are involved in the extortion racket in the city.
Some of the accused also have criminal records and were earlier arrested.
The SP further appealed to the public and business establishments to give information to police so as to nab such extortionists and for taking legal action.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) P.N Syiem today informed that a Delimitation Committee has been formed by the Executive Committee (EC) to examine on the demand to reorganize the boundary of some constituencies.
Speaking to media persons, Syiem said that the Delimitation Committee will include Chairman Dr. S. Kharsyiemlich, Rtd. Judge, District Council Court along with three members which include Dr. S.L Marbaniang, Ex MLA, R. Myrboh, Rtd. School Teacher, Dr. D.R.L Nonglait, Prof. Dept of Khasi, NEHU and Secretary M. Kharkrang, Rtd. Secretary of KHADC.
Syiem said that the decision to form the Delimitation Committee is after the district council had received over 15 written applications from villages who had requested the council to shift or re-arrange their villages to other constituencies vis a vis.
On the criteria for re-organization of various villages, Syiem said that it will be based on the population and geography of such villages but the final criteria will be framed by the committee.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: Students of North Eastern Hills University (NEHU) under the umbrella of North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) today stormed the Kiang Nangbah Guest House and Auditorium to fulfil their long pending demand.
The VC of NEHU along with the minister in charge of education Rakkam A Sangma was in the guest house to attend some programs when hundreds of students stormed and block the main entrance demanding the VC to come out and address the long pending demands of the students.
Earlier hundreds of students took part in the rally to demand with regard to the issues pertaining to the hostel facilities, to set up a Library for the School of Technology (SOT) and to remove Rohit Prasad from the post of Post Technical Consultant in NEHU.
After a few hours, the VC of NEHU Prof. Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla came out of the Kiang Nangbah Guest House and Auditorium where heated arguments took place between the students outside the guest house.
With regard to the appointment of Rohit Prasad from the post of Post Technical Consultant in NEHU, Prof. Shukla agreed that the appointment of the Post Technical Consultant in NEHU was not advertised as it was decided by the executive council of the university.
About the hostel facilities, the VC assured the agitating students that the Mess Committee will be constituted to address the issues relating to the food, Wi-Fi and other necessities in the Hostel.
The VC had also assured the students that all their demands would be fulfilled by the start of January 2024.
With regard to the demand to set up a library for the School of Technology (SOT), the VC claimed that this issue was discussed in the previous meeting and it was found out that the School of Technology (SOT) does not have ample of space to set up new library but he assured the students that the university will look for some other alternatives.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: The NEHU Teachers Association (NEHUTA) and Meghalaya College Teachers Association (MCTA) have agreed to the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from the academic session of 2023-2024.
This announcement was made by NEHUTA president Prof. Lakhon Kma after the emergent meeting of the NEHU Academic Council (AC) which wascalled by NEHU Vice Chancellor, Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla after continuous demand by the MCTA and NEHUTA.
Speaking to media persons after the emergent meeting, Prof. Lakhon Kma said that the meeting was a success as the VC had agreed on his flaws to issue a notification on July 12 to all Principals of colleges to implement NEP from August 1 without the approval of the academic council.
Prof. Kma said that in the meeting the VC had agreed that the academic council is more supreme than the executive council of the VC when it comes to decisions related to academic policy matters of the university.
“We are happy with the outcome of the meeting and we have agreed to go ahead with the implementation of the NEP from the academic session 2023-2024 and this decision overrides the notification of the VC after the 110th meeting of the AC who had single-handedly tried to force the implementation of the NEP without the approval of the AC” said Prof. Kma.
On the decision to agree to the implementation of NEP from 2023-2024, Prof. Kma said that this decision was taken after good sense had prevailed to the VC who had regrets with his previous decision to override AC and also by taking into account the interest of the students and the colleges.
Prof. Kma claimed that good sense might have prevailed unto the VC after the university received direction from the President of India and the Governor of Meghalaya as the NEHUTA and MCTA had continuously written to this highest authority on the attitude of the VC.
Prof. Kma said that in the emergent meeting, a decision was also taken to convene an official meeting of the Academic Council of the university on October 31 and in this meeting, a deliberation on how to go ahead with the NEP will be discussed.
“Normally the examination of the first semesters would be held in the month of November but since for the last three month many teachers have boycotted the classes hence there is a need to extend the session to allow the AC to discuss and set the question paper according to the NEP” he added.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: National People’s Party leader and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong today said the NPP is neither an importer nor an exporter of political leaders.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said, “We are not an importer and we are not an exporter also, we are the NPP, the National People’s Party and we work here and serve the interest of the people and the state of Meghalaya and not only Meghalaya even in entire North East region.”
Opposition Congress chief and Shillong MP Vincent H Pala had recently affronted the NPP for having to “import” candidates from the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, slated to be held next year.
Pala had also alleged that the NPP is also approaching former Umroi legislator George B Lyngdoh from the TMC.
Tynsong said that he has no idea about Lyngdoh likely to join his party fold.
“I don’t know, I have no idea about it. So you can ask that from Pala…,” he added.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today informed that the State government will invite the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) next month for discussion on resolving the issue pertaining to the relocation of 342 families of Sweepers’ Colony from Them Iew Mawlong.
“We will have one more meeting with them (HPC). Unfortunately, Puja just came in so hopefully by next month we will be able to call them and sit once and for all and we will submit an affidavit to the court,” Tynsong told reporters.
On September 29, the Meghalaya government had informed the High Court that it has agreed to increase the individual plot sizes as requested by the residents of the Sweepers’ Colony.
With regards to the dilapidated condition of the roads, Tynsong, who is also in charge of PWD (Roads) said, “I have already instructed right from the commissioner & secretary, secretary and the chief engineers of the PWD to now since the dry and working season start be it any to make sure that the repairing and maintenance of road start at the earliest possible.”
On Byrnihat being categorized as the most polluted area in Meghalaya, the deputy chief minister said that he has asked the chief secretary to take up this matter with the Assam counterpart.
“In as far as Byrnihat is concerned, the left side while going to Guwahati is Meghalaya and the right side is Assam. I think you must have seen quite a number of factories all along the right side whereas from our left side we have only a designated industrial estate and we do also have factories but it is well monitored by the MSPCB. As far as Assam is concerned, I have asked the CS to take up this matter with the counterpart Assam to find out ways and means on how to monitor because we can’t go and monitor those factories in Assam which were functioning till now,” he said.
Organizers directed to adjust timeline of Cherry Blossom Fest
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: The state government has directed the organizers of the upcoming Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival to start the programme scheduled on November 19, after church service following opposition of its conclusion on a Sunday.
Informing this today, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong also assured that the government will ensure that next year the festival will not be held on a Sunday.
“See if you talk about Sunday or Saturday or Friday see sometimes it happens the last day sometimes it happens it ends on Sunday or may be the starting it happens on Sunday or Saturday or Friday. Let me just assure the people of the State this is not that we really wanted to do it during Sunday but this is a programme of 3-4 days so it happened that it ended on a Sunday,” Tynsong said while adding “What we decided is we have already instructed even those organizers for this time since it ended on Sunday let the function start maybe after 3 pm in the afternoon of Sunday let it start after the church service.”
“I would appeal to everybody to let us be cool and calm and we will see from next year onwards to calculate the date accordingly so that everybody is happy and everybody is also benefited out of this festival,” he added further.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh had recently stated that there is a political motive behind opposition against the festival.
Tynsong however said there is nothing wrong in people expressing their sentiments about the issue.
“I would like to say that this is the sentimental step because it is so sentimental. People I think you understand well here it is known as a Christian state. Some of our church leaders or even members of the NGOs they have that sentiment, I appreciate that sentiment no doubt about it, from the government side I don’t say it is wrong it is right but for this festival which is going to happen next month I have already told you for the ending part to adjust accordingly, we have decided, we already ask the organizers to start the function only after the church service,” the deputy chief minister said even as he concluded by saying “We are all sinners, God have mercy on us 24x7 including you.”
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today chaired a meeting to review the fire incidents in the State.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said, “Few decisions were taken where ultimately I have asked the department concerned, the fire service IG in charge to submit all details, what are the challenges that we have whether in terms of maybe instruments or in terms of infrastructure or in terms of manpower, I have instructed him to submit it to the department to the government and we will see one by one to meet all those requirements at the earliest possible,” Tynsong said.
The meeting was held in view of the recent massive fire incident at Khyndailad.
On the fire safety auditing of buildings, the deputy CM said, “That is also part of the meeting. That is why I am telling you I have already told the fire service wings to submit all details which means recommendations, suggestions, views to the government and from there once I receive all these, I will call the meeting again. That is why I have already instructed the IG in charge of fire service to submit all those documents.”
Tynsong said, “I will again call a meeting (on the matter). We will discuss in the higher authority (on the) need to come up with (fire safety) policy and SOPs especially in the urban areas which I personally feel it is urgently needed. Once that is done I am sure we will come up with SOPs and notification accordingly so that we will do it at the earliest possible.”
