Of Meghalaya’s education system: Why are our toppers moving to metro cities for higher studies?

TNT | May 28, 2018

To

The Editor

TNT – The Northeast Today

Respected Editor,

The month of May was the month of academic results: one after the other being announced as students across the country rushed to their schools and education board websites for their results. Several students across the North-east came out with smiles on their faces, having given stellar performances in their respective examinations. Flattery has been received, gifts have been given and congratulatory dinners have been hosted. But what next?

Rather than the relief that comes with having done well in an examination comes instead the harrowing period of admissions. Over the years, several students, those who can afford it anyway, have thronged to cities like Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore for further studies. Applying for admissions in the state itself has been reduced to a back-up until one finally gets accepted into an under-graduate course in a prestigious university in a metro city.

50,077 students from Meghalaya appeared for the SSLC exam this year while 23,160 students appeared for the HSSLC exam. These board examination results inevitably put the spotlight on the Meghalaya education system and the need for a new approach to education if it is ever going to compete with other boards in the country.

With limited regulation of the quality of education, admission and fees, the poor and deprived, who are incapable of pursue their studies outside the state, are often trapped in low quality education. Perhaps then, more autonomy to decide fees, student admission and courses can help with the current stagnation the system is under. Our state board syllabus is also incredibly outdated in comparison to other boards in the country. Perhaps, the consideration to bring about the NCERT syllabus recently will help. Only time will tell. Some students are even considering going abroad to pursue further studies because of the wide gap between foreign and Indian universities. This, more than ever, underlines the need for education reforms at every level to ensure better quality.

Let us not, then, fail our students. It is up to the new state government and its schools to bring about bigger changes to push Meghalaya to the academic front. Our students have done their bit. But will our government do theirs?

Name withheld on request

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