Focus is not just on quantity of education, but on improving quality of education. This will be the main thrust in the coming days.
– Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister
Shillong Sept 12: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has reiterated the government’s focus on education, saying the sector gets the highest budget allocation of Rs 3,500 crore every year.
“Government has always believed education is one of the key foundations for any society. Based on this belief, the highest budget allocation is for education. We spend over Rs 3,500 crore every year for education,” Sangma said while inaugurating St Joseph Sodality Zonal Convention at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Tikrikilla in South Garo Hills district on Friday.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the extended school building and renovated computer lab on the occasion.
The programme was attended by Deputy Speaker Limison Sangma, Tourism Minister Timothy D Shira and MLA Jimmy D Sangma.
Mentioning that a major chunk of the education budget goes towards salaries, he said the government has been making concerted efforts to improve infrastructure.
“In the last many years, we have been investing in school buildings and other facilities, improving pupil-teacher ratio and enhancing overall pass percentage,” he said.
Sangma said the thrust now will be on quality.
“Focus is not just on quantity of education, but on improving quality of education. This will be the main thrust in the coming days,” he said.
Lauding teachers for working in difficult conditions, Sangma told students not to take new facilities for granted.
“After travelling across the state and country, I can say you are studying in one of the better schools in the entire country. Consider yourselves lucky, remain grateful and dedicate yourselves to studies with full commitment,” he told the students.
