Shillong, Apr 8: To ensure administrative ease in dealing with too many categories of government-funded schools, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said the government would consult with all stakeholders on the need to do away with the multiple categories.
“It is very desirable (to do away with several categories) because we see the benefits… but it is very sticky at the same time because each category has its own problems,” Sangma told reporters.
Among 14,540 government-funded schools in Meghalaya, there are four categories – government, private, SSA, deficit and ad hoc.
Understanding the need for bringing all categories under one roof, he said, “We need to consult deeply with teachers, managing committees, and other stakeholders.”
The government has already started the process and consultations are on with the stakeholders.
Admitting concerns expressed by colleges and schools after getting letters from the government in this regard, he said, “There are concerns that the government is going to take some drastic measures, it is not. We are simply trying to understand the situation and the complications.”
“Without understanding that, we will not be able to move forward,” he said.
Asserting that lesser categories of schools would help manage the system better and ensure a uniform approach to everything, he said, “But, as I said, it is not that simple; it needs to be deeply consulted and stakeholders have to be brought on board.”
A presentation was made by the Education department on the complications faced by the sector in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Terming education a “very complicated subject” the chief minister said, “We need to untangle the knots, but we have to do it in a manner that doesn’t disrupt the system too much. It is very complicated but we are moving on it.”
The complexity of the issues has even affected the PGI index ranking of the state.
Sangma explained the irony of the same school having all four different categories.
“You have four schools in different categories but they are the same schools technically speaking…,” he said.
A school comes under SSA for lower primary (LP) level, becomes ad hoc for upper primary, then deficit for secondary level and government for higher secondary level, he said.
“Thus it brings down the overall ranking as the same facility is divided among four schools… in the terms of classification, there are four schools but all for practical purposes it is just one school…” he said.
