SHILLONG, MAR 16: Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) on Monday raised the issue of failure of the state government to stop the alleged commercialization of education by private educational institutions.
UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh said on Monday during the question hour in the assembly, “The mounting cost of education has eaten into the major part of the household budget where half of the parent’s income goes in their children’s education.”
According to Mawthoh if education is commercialize to much the whole objective of education will defeated. He said notwithstanding raising the concern time and again the state government unfortunately has not taken any initiatives to address it.
Meghalaya deputy chief minister- in charge of education- RC Laloo responded by saying the department is seized of the matter and an Enquiry Committee has been constituted to examine commercialization of education.
Laloo said the committee constituted on April last year was given the task of looking into the complaints of collection of exorbitant fees by the private educational institutions in the state. He informed,“The report of the committee is being examined by the Directorate.”
The committee is being headed by W Challam, the District School Education Officer, Shillong, TM Pyngrope, Special Officer DSEL and LM Iangngap, Sub-Divisional School Education Officer, Shillong.
Mawthoh also sought clarification whether the government is contemplating to bring legislation to check and regulate on the private educational institution.
Laloo replied by saying the DSEL has also written to all the SDSEOs for survey of school fees collected by different private educational institutions and the report has also submitted to the directorate.
Laloo assured the assembly that the state government would apply its mind on the exorbitant fees charged by the different schools.
Stating that the state government is also aware of mushrooming of private institutions, Laloo said this issue was discussed at different levels of the department and how to go about it. He also informed that the state government is also aware that only government schools cannot cater to the educational needs of the students in the state.
When Mawthoh sought information about how many of private schools are catering to the disadvantage group, Laloo informed that the department does not have any records of schools catering to which section of people but said as per the RTE Act, schools have to earmark at least 25 per cent of the seats for disadvantage group section of students.
Taking part in the discussion, Independent legislator John Leslee Sangma brought to the notice of the house the ‘use and throw policy’ of text books adopted by the private institutions. He said, “This policy adopted by private schools allows no scope for siblings to reuse the same textbooks making parents to buy textbooks every year.” He recalled earlier the textbooks could be used again.
Laloo responded by saying that the state government has seen reports about text book control by private institution and the education department is discussing this particular practice by private institutions.
Laloo, however, said, “The government needs specific information about the schools, to take action.”.
Not satisfied Sangma sought his assurance, to which Laloo said the government is attending to this issue is dealing with private educational institution but would soon come up with specific instructions on how to go about it.- By Our Reporter
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