Shillong, Oct 17: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday attended the 15th Foundation Day celebration of Mawkyllei College at Dorbar Lyngdoh Nonglait Ground in West Khasi Hills, announcing financial assistance of Rs 30 lakh for the institution and its students.
Mawthadraishan MLA Shakliar Warjri attended the programme as the Guest of Honour.
Congratulating the college on completing 15 years, Sangma said the occasion was also an opportunity to recognise the people who established the institution, the community that sustained it, the teachers who carried forward its academic work, and the students and families who placed their trust in it.
Paying tribute to the late Hopingstone Lyngdoh, the founder of the college, the Chief Minister said, “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.”
He also fondly recalled the close association between the late Hopingstone Lyngdoh and his father, late P. A. Sangma, as well as their family.
Highlighting the importance of education, Sangma said it was the most important sector for any government, adding that society and the nation could not progress at the desired pace without it. He described education as the most powerful means of bringing change to society.
“For us as a government education has been a top priority,” he said.
The Chief Minister outlined the reforms and developments undertaken in Meghalaya’s education sector since 2018. These include increased budgetary allocations, 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 of new school buildings alongside the improvement and renovation of existing ones.
“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 added.
Acknowledging the challenges involved in improving education, Sangma sought the cooperation of all stakeholders and called for collective efforts to strengthen the sector.
He said the government was working to expand access to higher education, including in rural areas. He added that the government was supporting several schools and colleges and working towards a policy to assist institutions performing well and providing students with more educational opportunities.
The Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh to Mawkyllei College under the Chief Minister’s Special Grant. He also announced an additional Rs 5 lakh for the college’s students to procure music and sports equipment.
Concluding his address, Sangma said, “The first fifteen years have widened access to higher education and laid a strong community foundation. The next phase should build on this progress by strengthening academic quality, mentoring students more effectively and preparing them for higher studies, employment and service to society.”
Mawkyllei College was established on June 6, 2011, after the village community recognised that many students completing Class XII faced difficulties pursuing higher education in distant towns because of the additional costs involved.
The initiative was taken forward through the collective commitment of the village community, with strong support from the late Hopingstone Lyngdoh.The college represents more than a local educational facility. By bringing higher education closer to home, it has enabled more young people from the region to continue their studies after Class XII.
Also read: Nongspung A villagers seek Conrad Sangma’s intervention over delayed school project
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