SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Education Department will establish a fact-finding committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the state’s educational challenges.
The committee will examine the underlying factors contributing to low student enrollment, the prevalence of proxy teachers, and the presence of dilapidated school buildings.
Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma announced the initiative on Monday, stating that the committee will conduct on-site visits to schools throughout the state to gain first-hand knowledge of the existing problems.
He acknowledged the alarming prevalence of schools with no enrollment, high dropout rates, proxy teachers, and a disproportionate number of teachers to students.
Emphasizing the responsibility of teachers in addressing the high dropout rate, he urged 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 concern about the high dropout rates in SSA schools and rejected 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.
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Commenting on the longstanding demand for a pay increase by SSA teachers, Sangma explained that the central government’s contribution to teacher salaries has steadily declined.
He stated that the Meghalaya government is working on a formula to address this issue and ensure fair compensation for teachers.
