New Developments in Meghalaya’s Education Sector Amid Controversy over Deaths of Two Students in Karnataka
A recent incident in Karnataka, where two students from Meghalaya died due to food poisoning after being served stale dinner from a local restaurant, has raised questions about the state government’s ability to provide free and compulsory education to children from economically deprived backgrounds. Despite Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma’s assurance that the government is committed to ensuring free and compulsory education according to the Right to Education Act, many are left wondering whether there is a need to look for opportunities outside the state.
Sangma, while speaking to the media, expressed his concerns about the motive behind the agencies involved in sending the students to Karnataka and questioned whether the families of the students had provided their consent. He acknowledged that there are limitations to the department’s intervention in such cases, citing the need for a thorough investigation to determine the extent of the incident.
In related news, the government has been reviewing pending projects in the education sector, including the long-overdue Eklavya Model Residential (EMR) schools. It has been reported that some projects have been pending for as long as 10-15 years, and the minister has instructed officials to expedite those that are delayed due to technical or land-related issues. Thirteen of the 38 EMR schools are currently under construction, while 13 are in the tendering process, and the remaining are in the documentation stage. The state government has taken over projects that were initially awarded to a Manipur-based firm.
In a bid to improve access to education, the state government has also been working on providing scholarships to Scheduled Tribe students. While the initiative has been met with some success, concerns about the impact of the recent food poisoning incident on the education sector remain. As the investigation into the incident continues, many are left wondering whether there is a need to re-examine the state’s approach to providing free and compulsory education to children from economically deprived backgrounds.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/03/25/why-send-children-outside-when-govt-provides-free-edn-rakkam/
Category : MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2025-03-25 02:33:00
