NE States discuss education sector of the region – Meeting focus on the need to improve satndard of education
Posted by barunroy on June 1, 2008
GANGTOK, May 30: A day-long meeting of the North East Education Ministers was held at Chintan Bhawan here today. The meeting, organised by the State Human Resource Development Department, was participated by all the HRDD ministers of the entire NE States. Addressing the press conference at the Chintan Bhawan today evening, Dr. R Lalthangliana, HRDD Minister for Mizoram said that the main objective behind organizing the meeting was to discuss the problems being faced by the NE States in the education sector.
The Minister also informed that elaborate discussions were held wherein crucial education issues such as special considerations for the NE States from the Central Government to improve and standardize education quality were discussed. Despite several bottlenecks, the education scenario in NE States is far better as compared to other States in India, Dr. Lalthangliana said. “Since most of the NE States fall under the earthquake prone areas there are times when school buildings are cracked or damaged. Taking this in mind, we have made a special appeal with the Ministry to allow more construction of school buildings,” he said.
The education minister of Mizoram also stressed that there should be more facilities in Science and Mathematics for the NE States by the Central government. “Perusal will be made to increase the transportation subsidy of Mid-Day Meal to Rs 200 per quintal from Rs 100 per quintal, he added. Talking about the new scheme of the Central government ‘Success’, Dr. Lalthangliana explained that it is an extended form of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, which would be implemented in providing education for the secondary and senior secondary levels.
Manas Chaudhari, the HRDD Minister of Meghalaya said that a seminar on quality education would be organized at Shillong soon, which will feature intense discussion on bringing about contemporary changes in the education system. While expressing happiness over Sikkim’s effort in having more girl enrolment than boys in primary schools in the ratio of 113 girls : 100 boys, Mr. Chaudhari informed that the Government of India is soon launching one lakh scholarships to the students who are finically deprived. “Computer education, and satellite education is the need of the hour,” he added.
Responding to the media on how fruitful was the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of HRDD said it was doing good with more than 93% of the growth in the annual enrolment despite minor lacunae. The HRDD Ministers from Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim also attended the conference along with the academicians and the representatives from the Ministry, New Delhi. [Sikkim Express]
