Shillong, Oct 17: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday announced a grant of ₹30 lakh for Mawkyllei College during its 15th Foundation Day celebration at Dorbar Lyngdoh Nonglait Ground in West Khasi Hills.
Of the total amount, ₹25 lakh will be provided to the college through the Chief Minister’s Special Grant, while an additional ₹5 lakh will be given to students to procure music and sports equipment.
Mawthadraishan MLA Shakliar Warjri attended the programme as the Guest of Honour.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma congratulated the college on completing 15 years and acknowledged the contributions of its founders, the local community, teachers, students and their families in building and sustaining the institution.
He paid tribute to the late Hopingstone Lyngdoh, the founder of the college, and recalled his close association with the late P. A. Sangma and his family.
“On this day, I pay my respects and gratitude to Late Hopingstone Lyngdoh, the founder and architect of this college and a great leader of our state,” the Chief Minister said.
Emphasising the importance of education in social transformation, Sangma said the sector remained a top priority for the Meghalaya government.
He Emphasised several initiatives undertaken since 2018, including increased budgetary allocations for education, improved pass percentages in board examinations, better Performance Grading Index (PGI) rankings, the establishment of colleges and higher and technical education institutions, and the construction and renovation of school buildings.
“Education has seen a change and we are moving in the right direction, but our journey is far from completion, with a lot more to do in this sector,” he said.
Acknowledging the challenges in the education sector, the Chief Minister called for cooperation among all stakeholders to improve educational opportunities across Meghalaya.
He said the government was working to expand access to higher education in rural areas and supporting several schools and colleges. He also Emphasised efforts to formulate a policy to support well-performing educational institutions and provide students with more opportunities to continue their studies.
Concluding his address, Sangma said the college’s first 15 years had expanded access to higher education and established a strong community foundation. He stressed the need to strengthen academic quality, improve student mentoring and prepare young people for higher studies, employment and service to society.
Established on June 6, 2011, Mawkyllei College was founded through a community initiative to address the difficulties faced by students who could not afford the additional expenses of pursuing higher education in distant towns after completing Class XII.
With the support of the local community and the late Hopingstone Lyngdoh, the institution has grown to serve more than 150 students, supported by over 18 teaching and non-teaching staff members.
The college has played an important role in bringing higher education closer to rural communities and is expected to contribute further to the development of Meghalaya’s higher education sector.