Tura:
Infrastructural challenges, urban migration, single and untrained teachers, socio-economic factors, quality of education were identified as a few factors that force students to leave school prematurely in Garo Hills.
This emerged during a consultative meeting convened to find ways and means to tackle the alarming increase in school dropout rates in Garo Hills, here on August 5.
Infrastructure development, curriculum adaptation, teacher training, strengthening support systems are few of the potential solutions that came up after the threadbare discussion.
The Education minister, Rakkam A Sangma, pledged full support to transform the education sector in the region.
Speaking at the meeting, he said that the dropout rate of school students has been comparatively high in both primary and secondary level which is posing a significant challenge to the progress and development of the Garo Hills region while suggesting that proactive steps should be taken to foster a positive learning environment by ensuring quality education to children.
Elementary school teachers and officials from the Education department of Garo Hills region and the Meghalaya Board of School Education participated in the meeting held at the Circuit House, here.
The meeting focused on the underlying reasons contributing to dropouts and to formulate effective strategies to improve the educational scenario in the region.
Sangma also mentioned that all the government schools and teachers will be mapped and uniform teaching modules would be provided in the coming days so as to ensure better education facilities to children and urged the teachers to take it as a responsibility and teach with dedication.
During the meeting, an open discussion was also facilitated between the education minister, school teachers and officials, all of whom contributed their insights and experiences and collectively identified the several potential reasons contributing to the high dropout rate in the area.
Moreover, principal, Educere Secondary School, Williamnagar, Gamchi T R Marak spoke on the learning outcomes of the students and motivated the teachers to inculcate dedication and determination and also upgrade their pedagogical skills to improve the quality of education in the region. She also stressed on the involvement of the community by encouraging parents and local communities to actively participate in the education system and thereby create a conducive environment for student’s growth.
Meanwhile, executive chairman, MBoSE, Tura Ambrose Ch Marak, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Jagdish Chelani, Chairman, Tura Municipal Board, J D Sangma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, WGH Rezia Ch Sangma, Principal, Don Bosco College, Rev. Fr Threnius Sangma, officials from Education department, MBoSE, DIET, Tura also shared their valuable suggestions to improve the overall educational scenario in Garo Hills.