Tura: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, alongside Speaker Thomas A. Sangma, officially launched the distribution of M-Tabs (learning tablets) to students in West Garo Hills on Tuesday during a ceremony at the District Auditorium in Tura.
The M-Tab initiative is part of the Chief Minister’s Student Digital Learning Scheme, aimed at enhancing e-Education in the state.
The tablets come pre-loaded with comprehensive resources for Higher Secondary level exams across all streams, including study materials, mock question papers, past exam papers, and solved answers.
They also feature high-quality audio, video, animations, and 3D graphics to support interactive learning.
Speaking at the event, CM Conrad K. Sangma emphasized that the M-Tab is more than just a gadget; it’s a tool designed to empower the youth of Meghalaya.
“We want to ensure that our youth have access to quality learning, equipping them to tackle various examinations,” he said.
The Chief Minister further stated that this initiative reflects the government’s commitment to the students, emphasizing, “This program is a message to you – we care about you and we trust you.”
He highlighted how rapidly advancing technology is reshaping education and affirmed the government’s commitment to integrating technology into learning to make it more engaging, meaningful, and enjoyable.
“Digital learning, through audio-visual and pictorial content, makes education easier and more accessible,” he added.
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He underscored the importance of using technology at the grassroots level, particularly through smart classrooms and digital learning, while clarifying that technology is merely an enabler, facilitating easier learning.
Sangma also shared that the state government is prioritising the development of the IT sector, including the establishment of IT parks in Shillong and Tura, as well as the laying of optical fiber networks.
“We hope to complete these projects in the next two years, ensuring that every school has access to optical fibers. The process has already begun,” he said.
Highlighting the success of the existing IT park in Shillong, Sangma revealed that it currently serves clients from the US and Europe, with Meghalaya’s youth working on AI-driven solutions for industries in those regions.
“Our youth are providing AI solutions to companies in the US and Europe, helping predict crop diseases, rainfall patterns, plant growth, and water requirements—all from Meghalaya. This is the kind of transformation we are seeing,” he added.
Since the program’s launch in 2021, around 1 lakh M-Tabs have been distributed to Class XI students. In the 2023-24 academic session, 30,480 students have benefited from the scheme, according to the Directorate of School Education and Literacy.
In West Garo Hills, about 3,000 M-Tabs are being distributed, with more than 400 students from 21 different higher secondary schools receiving their tablets at Tuesday’s event.
Additionally, nearly 5,700 teachers from higher secondary schools across the state will also receive M-Tabs to enhance e-learning and assessments.
The Vidya Samiksha Kendra, a learning management app developed by the Department of Information and Technology, Government of Meghalaya, will assist teachers in monitoring and assessing students’ learning outcomes.
