Meghalaya | All teachers should be vaccinated: Heads of schools & colleges tell govt

By Daiaphira Kharsati | SHILLONG: 

Heads of educational institutions in Meghalaya have suggested that all teachers be vaccinated, and the suggestions have been communicated to the Health Department, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said, on Wednesday. 

A meeting was held between officials of the Education Department and heads of schools and colleges in Shillong on Wednesday, to get their views on the prevailing COVID situation in the state. 

Rymbui informed that there are more than 39,000 teachers in government-aided schools and, in private institutions, the number will be not less than 75,000.

The institution heads unanimously agreed that the present system for colleges, classes of XI-XII and classes VII-VIII (upper primary) should continue, he said.

“As for classes VII and VIII, the majority feels that the present arrangement is more than sufficient. Regarding KG to class V, it is a divided opinion. But they also said that the present arrangement is good because the online option is not feasible at all even in the urban areas," he said.

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Many educational institution heads feel that online class is not feasible for small children as it is the parents and others who help the students thereby preventing them from acquiring real knowledge. 

"I don't know how far this true. I have no right to cast aspersions on anybody... they (students) get some but not the real knowledge," the education minister said. 

“In the present system, we have not insisted on attendance and, we leave (it) to the school authorities to stagger the class. Attendance is not compulsory and parents who feel that they are not comfortable sending their children to school, they can (opt for) online or whatever system the school provides them through Whatsapp," he added. 

Class X and XII Board examinations will be held as scheduled

As for the Class X and XII examinations to be conducted by the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE), the education minister said that school authorities are of the view that the exams must go on to test the capacity and capability of the students.

“Everybody is of that opinion and, the government has also decided that the Class 10th and 12th Board examinations should be held. But we will review the situation periodically if any corrective measures need to be taken at an appropriate time," he said.