Govt to frame law to regulate educational institutions

SHILLONG, Feb 20 : While stressing the need for clear-cut guidelines on appointment of teachers taking into account local applicants, Higher and Technical Education Minister Manas Chaudhuri on Wednesday said the government would frame necessary legislation to regulate educational institutions, both public and private.

“The legislation will be in place by the next academic session,” Mr Chaudhuri said at a press conference after a meeting on State education which was chaired by Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy.

Parliamentary Secretary (Elementary Education) Ampareen Lyngdoh, Commissioner and Secretary (Education) Lambha Roy, Director of Higher and Technical Education WS Khyllep, DERT Director Lutherin Sangma, thought leaders, members of different teachers’ bodies like MCTA, KHJDSTA and MUPSTA and heads of educational institutions attended the meeting which lasted about three hours.

Mr Chaudhuri said that the meeting deliberated on how best to make education relevant to the learners and the need to rationalise the education sector in the State.

On violation of the State Reservation Policy, as alleged by certain NGOs, in appointment of two persons as lecturers, he said appointment of teachers should be made on the basis of merit.

The Education Minister said the government would monitor the MBoSE curriculum, and amend the MBoSE Act if necessary, to improve the Board’s functioning to bring it on a par with other education Boards in the country.

In order to improve the functioning of schools in the State, especially those in rural areas, the government, through Meghalaya Education Services (MES), would recruit professional staff for inspection and monitoring of all educational institutions, he said.

The minister also said the government was contemplating setting up ITI in every sub-division in the State, adding that emphasis would be laid on training related to industrial and employment-oriented activities in all the existing ITIs.

Referring to the shortage of IT professionals within the present set-up for imparting computer education, Mr Chaudhuri said the government was going to outsource the IT sector to private parties.