SHILLONG:
Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on August 28 congratulated the Principal of Seng Khasi College, W.B. Rynjah, for implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in the institution.
Speaking on the occasion of the closing ceremony of the Golden Jubilee celebration of Seng Khasi College on Monday, Lyngdoh said, “I’m happy to hear from the principal in your leadership, sir; you have taken up the mantle to start the NEP in your institution. The more we complain, the further we will be from joining mainstream education. Yes, we have challenges. Yes, our institutions cannot afford a fourth batch of students.”
She further said, “But if you say no to CUET today, you are distancing yourself from joining that mainstream challenge. A lot of our students are doing very well.”
She expressed enthusiasm about having people from the current generation at North Eastern Hill University, including physicians, specialists, nurses, and other paramedical personnel, saying that students represent the state’s future.
“We need our citizens to aspire to be able to crack the IAS; those of you who have that in you, work; let us have more indigenous IAS officers; let us have experts from among ourselves so that we know how to generate policies that will be designed for us and away from the mainstream practice of painting India with one brush,” she said.
She continued by stating that people in the 21st century lack the educational freedom to enable states and communities to develop, to learn, and to preserve knowledge for future generations.
She cited the establishment of community colleges by the Meghalayan government as a grassroots educational initiative that will empower the residents of the state to pursue cultural research into Meghalayans. These institutions are run by highly qualified teachers and scribes who have amassed sufficient experience and knowledge to be able to lead such an endeavor.
She questioned whether the Seng Khasi community was codifying the customs as she turned to the prayers offered by one of their religious leaders.
Lyngdoh said, “We must ensure that we will be able to be empowered with a language that is recognized by the government of India. We are fighting for this. However, in preparation for all the documentation that is required, the government of Meghalaya would expect Seng Khasi College to be one premier institute that will help us present our unique case to the Government of India.”
She asked the Seng Khasi College to develop innovative library facilities, codify and record the classic Khasi songs, and continue to conserve the language of the Khasi speakers.