Shillong, September 09: Along with the rest of the world the World Literacy Day 2016 was observed today at SMELC Conference Hall, Dakopgre, Tura with the theme Literacy is a Bridge from Misery to Hope. Parliamentary Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya incharge Education, etc Winnerson D Sangma graced the occasion as Chief Guest in the presence of Deputy Commissioner West Garo Hills, Pravin Bakshi, Additional Deputy Commissioner & District Mission Coordinator, Sabrella B Marak, Principal Tura Government College, Terence Marak, other dignitaries, officials of education department, partner NGOs, teachers and students.
While addressing the gathering, Shri W D Sangma said that education is a platform for moulding the future of every individual who contributes to the growth and development of the society in their different capacities but at their one point of time they too served the society as teachers.
Expressing his satisfaction towards the performance of residential schools in the districts he opined that students studying in residential schools perform better due to disciplined and controlled environment provided by the institution and hopes that the initiatives taken by the government in opening up of more residential schools in the region would facilitate the overall development of the students. Further, he advised the concerned department to organize this kind of programmes in the rural areas so as to sensitize the parents the importance of education required for their children.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pravin Bakshi congratulated the teachers and the management for successful achievement of the KGBV schools of the district and is pleased to see the confidence and transformation of the students. He further urged the students to study as well as to take up sports at the same time in order to enhance the co-curricular activities in their future career.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), West Garo Hills District has conducted Model enrolment drive for about 802 Out of School Children for the year 2015-16 in all the blocks of the district for which the Educational package for few selected students were distributed by the Chief Guest on the occasion.
Moreover, the Secretary along with the Head Teacher of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) schools of West and South West Garo Hills Districts comprising of Jengjal, Dalu, Dadenggre, Tikrikkila, Selsella, Betasing and Zikzak Blocks received Certificates from the Chief Guest for their achievement in the project assigned by British Council.
It may be mentioned that SSA, Meghalaya collaborated and signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British Council on 26th September, 2014 for implementation of innovative capacity building programme known as Education Quality Improvement Pathway for Schools (EQUIPS), specially designed for capacity building of teachers of the seven KGBVs in Garo Hills region. As per the EQUIPS schedule the seven KGBVs has been trained on the broader theme areas, namely School Enterprise, Global Citizenship and 100 Words for Communication in October, 2014 followed by review meeting later in March, 2015 and on the occasion of World Literacy Day 2016, the Foundation Certificate is being distributed to KGBVs for their successful achievement of the said project.
