Over 134 teer counters operating illegally

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 20: Over 134 teer counters in the State were found operating without a license.

Of these, 120 teer counters are in East Khasi Hills, 3 West Jaintia Hills, 4 East Jaintia Hills and 7 Ri Bhoi District, Minister-in-charge of Taxation AT Mondal informed in a reply to a starred question tabled in the Assembly today.

He said instructions were issued to the concerned Superintendent of Taxes on May 27, 2019 and reiterated on January 19, 2021, directing the officers to strictly enforce the direction of the High Court with respect to stopping the operation of illegal teer counters and the applicability of GST thereof.

Mondal however said that most teer counters operate from makeshift establishments and were not in possession of proper occupancy documents to establish legal and authorized occupation of the premises.

STEMS programme a damp squib in Shillong

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 11: Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma today suggested the need to send the buses under the Sustainable Transport and Efficient Mobility Society (STEMS) programme for schools and colleges in the different districts of the state after they have no takers in Shillong.

“If there are no takers in Shillong, we should send them (STEM buses) to the colleges and schools across the state,” Sangma told reporters.

He said that the majority of the parents are not in line to take the service buses. “Therefore, we have decided to discuss with the Urban affairs department that if the schools and colleges within the Shillong city don’t want to use the buses, we should send them to other districts of the state. We will take up the matter with the urban affairs department and we will do the needful,” the minister added.

He said that the government is trying to give the best services to the people but parents seem to be not willing to trust others in sending their children to school.

99 pc of Meghalaya’s colleges have started 4 yr degree courses

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 7: Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma has informed that ninety-nine per cent of the colleges in Meghalaya have started the implementation of the 4-year degree courses under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the colleges affiliated with the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) have already implemented the NEP by starting the classes for the 4-year degree courses. We are in touch with the heads of the different institutions and their management,” Sangma told reporters yesterday.

He said the State government had earlier written to NEHU that some of the colleges had expressed their inability to implement the NEP.

“However after deliberation on the need of the hour and the urgency of this introduction, now all the colleges have implemented (NEP) and they have taken the importance of the future of our students,” he added.

Referring to the ongoing stalemate between the NEHU and the Meghalaya College Teachers Association (MCTA) and NEHUTA, the minister said, “We request them to sort things out because there is no opposition from any student, principal or management (against NEP implementation).”

He said the government now leaves it to the heads of the different institutions and their management to decide on the NEP.

When asked, Sangma said, “If we continue with the 3-year degree courses, our students will graduate in 2026 and in 2026, where our students will go for admission. If they go to Assam, Delhi and other state universities since they already implemented NEP and 4-year degree courses, I doubt whether our students will be eligible for further studies for postgraduate courses or not.”

“I think they will make their own decision but students’ future is top priority because our colleges are affiliated to NEHU and whatever decision is taken by it, they will have to follow,” he said.

Meanwhile, the education minister informed that the State government is coming up with its own curriculum in line with NEP.

“NEP is a broad subject. From elementary, upper primary, secondary and higher education, we are already implementing it. Lots of training is going on. Since the national curriculum framework has just been rolled out one week back, we are examining this and so we will come up with our own curriculum which will be best suited for our environment,” he added.

Govt examining proposal to adopt CBSE syllabus

Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma has informed that the government is examining the proposal to adopt the Central Board of School Education (CBSE) syllabus in the state.

“We are now examining the proposal to adopt the CBSE curriculum in order to improve the confidence and standards of our students in the state,” Sangma told reporters today.

“It may not be whole but certain sections and step by step we are exploring on how to bring the best education environment for the students,” he added.

The minister further asserted that the whole idea is to ensure the confidence and standard of the students of the state will be at par with the rest of the country.

Teachers unhappy with non-release of dues

The All Meghalaya Fourth Teachers Association Garo Hills Unit (AM4thTA GHU) has expressed unhappiness due to the non-release of their three–month salary.

The association said that the 4th teachers are yet to receive their salary for January to March 2023 and are facing lots of problems with their daily wages even going to school.

The association in its memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Education Minister Rakkam Sangma and also to the DSEL officers too on March 17 had demanded regularization of 1521 fourth teachers services, equal salary at par with Adhoc Upper Primary School teachers and to ensure regular disbursement of salary to teachers respective accounts and 5 per cent annual increment for Meghalaya 4th Teachers.

“If the MDA 2.0 government neglects the teachers’ salary then how will the teachers go to school with an empty stomach and empty pockets as they are without salary for three months? Therefore, the association requested the chief minister and education minister to look into the matter and ensure speedy release of our 3-month salary,” the president of the association Tengrang K Sangma said.