Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday stressed that education is a priority of the National People’s Party (NPP) government.
“The creation of better educational infrastructure will go a long way in giving a better atmosphere for students to avail learning facilities,” he said after laying the foundation stone for the upgradation of the United Kharkutta Higher Secondary School in North Garo Hills district.
Reiterating the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance’s commitment to realise the aspirations of the people, the Chief Minister said, “NPP made a commitment to the people during election and to fulfil the mandate, government has come up with the ‘Education Policy’ within six months of taking over the regime of the government”.
Commending the initiative by the community, Sangma said, “the school has served the community for over 68 years since its inception in 1953 which was a result of collective community leadership of six villages in the area. It continues to serve unbiased for students from different backgrounds with its sole purpose to educate and bring higher education closer to home. I am extremely happy to be here to announce the start of this project for such a well-deserved community”.
Established in 1953 by active members of 6 villages in the area- Kharkutta, Melopara, Tengabari, Salpara, Kholaipara and Kamagandim, the school was brought under deficit system in 1959 and provincialized in the year 1981.
In 2002, the school was upgraded to the higher secondary level. Currently, the school is in a dilapidated condition with inadequate infrastructure to fulfil the needs of students of the area. Speaking on taking opportunities, the chief minister encouraged the people of Kharkutta to take advantage of the village’s proximity with Assam by pursuing different entrepreneurial activities as a source of livelihood and assured that all support will be accorded by the government to promote business and economic activities in the area.