Shillong, Sept 16: The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved a new Grant-in-Aid scheme to strengthen secondary and higher secondary schools across the state, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced on Tuesday.
The scheme, named CM IMPACT+, aims to support around 1,900 secondary and higher secondary schools in Meghalaya through direct financial assistance.
Sangma said the state has nearly 9,000 primary schools, but the number falls sharply to about 1,900 at the secondary and higher secondary levels.
Seven blocks in the state currently do not have a single secondary school.
“There is a steep fall in the number of secondary and higher secondary schools. Hence, there needs to be a special push from the government side to promote secondary and higher secondary schools,” Sangma said after chairing the Cabinet meeting.
Under CM IMPACT+, eligible schools will receive a lump-sum grant that can be used according to their specific needs. The funding will not be used for sanctioned teaching posts or salaries.
“The objective of this programme is to support the 1,900 secondary and higher secondary schools. This will not be in the form of sanctioned posts or salary for teachers and lecturers, but a lump-sum grant to the institution,” the Chief Minister said.
The scheme will also be performance-based, with schools reviewed annually. Schools that show better performance will be eligible for higher financial support.
“The Education Department is working out the details based on the suggestions given,” Sangma said, adding that a detailed notification on the scheme will be issued soon.
