Following petitions submitted earlierby the School Management Committee (SMC), Jalaphet Bri Sutnga, Government Lower Primary (LP) School seeking provision of additional classrooms owing to space constraints on account of high enrolment, Meghalaya Education Minister, Shri Lahkmen Rymbui accompanied by Sutnga-Saipung MLA, Smti. Santa Mary Shylla and Sub-Divisional School Education Officer (SDEO), East Jaintia Hills District, O. Sumer on April 13, inspected the school in order to address the challenges presently faced by the school authorities and students in particular.During the inspection, theminister also interacted with officials, teachers, students, SMC members and others.
Following the inspection, a brief programme was held in the school premises in the presence of Head Teacher, Jalaphet Bri Sutnga Government Lower Primary (LP) School, Smt. Diona Syrti, Chairman of the School Management Committee (SMC), Shri Langki Bareh, other SMC Members, traditional heads, teachers and students.
Addressing the gathering, Education Minister, Shri Lahkmen Rymbui expressed gratitude to all stakeholders including the local MLA, teachers, students, SMC membersand parents for their continued trust and support in strengthening the education system by sending their children to the school, whose enrolment statistics is one of the highest in all Lower Primary Schools in the state.
He informed that the visit was undertaken following a petition received from stakeholders regarding the shortage of classrooms in the school, as highlighted by the local MLA, Smt Santa Mary Shylla. While applauding the enrolment status of the school, which currentlystands at 330 students, Rymbui expressed elation even as he noted that this reflects the growing confidence of the community in the school and its teachers. He also emphasized that his visit underscores the government’s commitment towards addressing infrastructure gaps, particularly the need for adequate classrooms to ensure an effective teaching and learning process.
He also commended the teachers for maintaining a high level of student enrolment, while highlighting the importance of rationalization while also noting that there are several schools with fewer students despite having a higher number of teachers.
On the occasion, the minister announced financial assistance of Rs. 40 lakhs for the construction of additional classrooms in order to alleviate the space constraints as earlier highlighted by SMC members and officials. He further announced that the Jalaphet Upper Primary School, located in the same premises, is set to receivean amount of Rs. 11 lakhs for the construction of a store-cum-kitchen room.
Additionally, the minister emphasized the need to increase the number of teachers in the school and instructed the Sub-Divisional School Education Officer (SDSEO), East Jaintia Hills District to urgently process matters pertaining to appointment of two additional teachers, supplementing the services of existing teachers of the school in order to better cater to the academic requirements of the students.
Further, he stated that teachers in all government schools are well-trained and qualified, and emphasized theimportance of shared responsibility of both teachers and parents in ensuring regular attendance and quality education for children. He also informed that the government has mandated that parent-teacher meetings be conducted twice a year in every school to monitor the overall development of students and to address challenges in the teaching-learning process.
Sutnga–Saipung MLA, Smti. Santa Mary Shylla, in her speech during the programme, expressed gratitude to the teachers of the school for their relentless efforts in the teaching profession, which has earned the trust of the community and contributed to an increase in the number of student enrolment.
She further emphasized the importance of education in rural areas and stated that the state government is committed towards ensuring quality education across the state of Meghalaya even asshe announcedfinancial assistance of Rs. 20 lakhs to the school under the District Mineral Foundation Scheme (DMF) for the construction of additional classrooms, thus complimenting the 40 lakhs announced by the state government.
