Meghalaya govt forms fact-finding committee to probe education crisis
Shillong: The Meghalaya Education Department is set to launch a comprehensive investigation into the state's educational challenges.
A fact-finding committee will be formed to examine factors contributing to low enrollment, proxy teachers, and dilapidated school buildings.
Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma announced the initiative on Monday, stating that the committee will conduct site visits to schools across the state to gain firsthand insights into the problems.
He acknowledged the alarming prevalence of schools with no enrollment, high dropout rates, proxy teachers, and a disproportionate number of teachers to students.
Sangma emphasized the responsibility of teachers in addressing the high dropout rate, urging them to prioritize their duties and focus on delivering quality education.
He linked Meghalaya's low performance in national assessments, such as the PG rank, directly to the performance of teachers.
The minister expressed particular concern about the high dropout rates in SSA schools and rejected any intimidation from teachers who prioritize salary increases over improving educational standards.
He indicated that teachers who are unwilling to attend school and teach may be asked to resign.
Regarding the longstanding demand for a pay hike by SSA teachers, Sangma explained that the central government's contribution to teacher salaries has been gradually decreasing.
He stated that the Meghalaya government is working on a formula to address this issue and ensure fair compensation for teachers.
