Shillong: The Directorate of School Education and Literacy, Meghalaya, in collaboration with the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad, has successfully conducted the Talent Identification Programme (TIP) for two consecutive academic years—FY 2022-23 and FY 2024-25.
The initiative is aimed at identifying exceptional Class VI students from Meghalaya and awarding them full scholarships, covering their education from Grade 6 to Grade 12, valued at approximately Rs 1 crore per student.
In the first phase of the programme, conducted in FY 2022-23, four students were selected from the state to receive these prestigious scholarships.
This year, the programme expanded to select another four students, bringing the total number of scholarship recipients from Meghalaya to eight.
The Talent Identification Programme is designed to discover gifted students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and provide them with opportunities to excel academically.
The Aga Khan Academy, an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, reaches out to its network of government and non-profit schools to nominate outstanding Class VI students for the programme.
The goal is to offer these students the academic environment they need to grow and build their future.
The selection process for the programme is rigorous, involving multiple stages of screening.
At the school level, each participating school nominates one academically exceptional student from Class VI.
In Meghalaya, the initial screening is conducted through the Meghalaya Learning Enhancement Network System (MLENS) assessment platform.
This year, 358 students appeared for the assessment, and 209 were shortlisted for further selection by the Aga Khan Academy.
The Aga Khan Academy’s selection process includes four stages: non-verbal ability, mathematics and English written exams, problem-solving and dynamic assessments, and finally, an interview.
From the 209 students screened, 20 were selected for the final interview.
After careful evaluation, four students were selected based on their performance in the final stages of the process.
The students selected for the scholarships in FY 2022-23 include Kheinkor Marthong from St. Xavier’s Secondary School in Nongstoin, Banteibok Marwein from St. Peter’s Higher Secondary School in Nongstoin, Jefferson Pariong from Mawrang Upper Primary School in Nongstoin, and Anubhav Dey from Dr. Radhakrishna Boys Secondary School in Shillong.
In FY 2024-25, the selected students include John Kennedy Puwein from SIB Singh Memorial Government Higher Secondary in Nongstoin, E-phrangdame G. Pariat from Shillong Public SS in Shillong, Wamon War from Government Public School in Jowai, and Rangkynjai J. Tariang from Shillong Public SS in Shillong.
The Meghalaya Department of School Education and Literacy has expressed its satisfaction with the programme’s success and reiterated its commitment to continuing the collaboration with the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad.
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This partnership marks a significant step in fostering academic growth and empowering students from Meghalaya, providing them with a chance to receive a world-class education and contribute to the development of their communities.
