Ampati, November 25: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma accompanied by School Education and Literacy Minister Deborah C Marak on 24 November laid the base for the first engineering college in Garo Hills at Ampati in South West Garo Hills. The engineering college which will be the second in the state for which the base has been laid will be constructed at Kebolpara around 4 kilometers from Ampati.
The Chief Minister while addressing the gathering stated that an amount of Rs. 41 cr has been sanctioned for the construction of the college. The establishment of an engineering college in Garo Hills will fulfill the ambition of aspiring engineers and at the same time usher in socio-economic change said Dr Sangma.
Expressing concern and clarifying on criticism that why Meghalaya needs two engineering colleges, the chief minister said, “We are still a developing state. We have so many promises and commitments to be fulfilled. There are areas in the state, which still has no good road and lack basic amenities. We have attained 45 years of statehood and after five years we will celebrate glorious 50 years of statehood, so we have a lot of things to do to catch up with the rest of the country”.
He also said that educational institutions were partners that would aid the government in finding solutions through innovation. “A Nation gains when we have productive people, if they are capable of doing something good, if they are capable of providing solution. An institution provides an opportunity for continuous learning”, he added, while speaking about how an unproductive person becomes a liability for a family, community and the nation.
Emphasizing on the need for qualitative improvement in the education sector Sangma said that that the education system should be able to produce productive citizens responsible for the growth of the state. ‘Every child born should be provided with the education they deserve so that they are capable of competing and becomes an asset to the nation”, the chief minister added.
He later announced that the foundation for Captain Williamson Technical University in Tura, College of Science and Commerce at Mahendraganj will be laid soon.
School Education & Literacy Minister, Deborah C Marak who also spoke on the occasion emphasized on the government’s commitment to improve the education sector of the state. She said that the creation of dedicated educational institutions within reach of the underprivileged would enable aspiring students to flourish.
We have to be diligent in our endeavor to provide quality education to our children and substituting or proxy teaching must stop asserted Marak. Among others who spoke at the occasion was Government Chief Whip who urged upon the youth to take interest in science and math.
