Two Engineering colleges

SHILLONG, MAR 7: Meghalaya government is contemplating to set up Engineering Colleges in the two districts of Meghalaya in its effort to provide professional education to the students in the state.

“The government is proposing to set up engineering colleges at Ampati in South West Garo hills district and Jowai, in West Jaintia hills district,” Governor KK Paul informed the Meghalaya assembly during his address on the first day of the dudget session on Friday.

Paul said proposal has been approved under the Special Plan Assistance. “Land for the purpose has been identified and preparation of detailed project report (DPR) and project management (PR) is being initiated,” he added.

Highlighting more on the proposed steps of the government, Paul said that the government is also considering a proposal for establishment of more polytechnics in other districts of the state apart from the three existing polytechnics at Shillong, Tura and Jowai.

Paul  further said the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Shillong has been set up for degree engineering courses adding that the government is also encouraging private players to start professional technical and vocational courses in the state for the benefit of the students’ community.

To address the problem of drop-outs, Paul  said that the state is in the process of establishing Model Schools and facilities for Girls hostels in the 9 educationally backward blocks (EBB) for which construction works have already started.

“The state has identified over 20 non-educationally backward blocks (EBB) where residential schools will be established for which land has been identified and will be taken over soon,” Paul added.

According to Paul, the proposed model schools and residential schools will be established on the pattern of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya to provide quality education to the children of the economically weaker sections of the area.

“These schools will also address the requirements of the school drop-outs who could not continue their schooling due to economic or other reasons,” Paul added.

Paul also pointed out that the infrastructural gaps and absence of good schooling facilities have resulted in large exodus of students from rural to the urban areas and district headquarters.

To address this issue, Paul said, “The department has, therefore, proposed to construct hostels for rural students in all district headquarters to provide cheap and affordable accommodation to such students,” adding seven such hostels are being taken up for construction.

Informing that the diploma in elementary education programme of the NIOS was launched in January this year, Paul said that a total of 4385 (out of 7822) untrained teachers will be trained during the first phase in 49 study centres spread all over the state.

Another effort to reduce drop-out rate is through the interventions under SSA and RMSA besides mid-day meal programme.

Paul said that the Midday Meal Scheme will continue to provide cooked meal to every child in government lower primary schools and aided lower primary schools.

So far the scheme has been able to cover 7422 LP schools and 2652 upper primary schools in which 4.72 lakh children were benefited besides kitchen sheds to 5768 schools have been provided, Paul informed.- By Our Reporter