Tura, January 10: The state is ready to set its own benchmark in providing education to the future generation of students and build a brand of its own in the education sector by establishing Pine Mount International Schools in three identified locations in the state, including Doldegre near Tura.
With this objective in view, Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma unveiled the foundation for construction of Pine Mount International School at Doldegre in the presence of Tura North MLA Noverfield Marak, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh, SP, Tura Dr. M.G.Raghavendra Kumar, President of Nokma Council, S.G. Momin, Nokmas and other local leaders, academicians, teachers, parents and a large number of students on Tuesday. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also distributed tablets to the students of class XI and XII under Students’ Digital Learning Aid Scheme along with the other dignitaries.
In his address, the Chief Minister expressed happiness to carry forward the project which is long overdue and said “we want to build a brand of our own and now it is time to leverage upon the brand Pine Mount”. But unlike the Pine Mount School in Shillong, Pine Mount International will be co-ed and both residential and non-residential, he informed. “However as we decided to sanction these international schools, acquisition of land became a challenge and the project had to be stalled”, he said and expressed his gratitude to the Nokma of Doldegre A’king and her family for having been generous enough to donate their land for the purpose.
“We are coincidentally fortunate to have this land at Doldegre as number institutions and government establishments including Tura Medical College and Integrated Farmers’ Market are coming up in the area. This will ensure that our students have access to education of international standard in a healthy environment without having to spend huge amount of money to pursue quality education in far off polluted cities”, he added.
Three such schools will be opened in the state, one each in Khasi Hills, Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills. He was optimistic that the opening of such a school in a scenic and healthy environment like Doldegre education in itself would generate opportunities to promote tourism in the region.
Distributing the tablets under Students’ Digital Learning Aid Scheme, the Chief Minister said that education ultimately becomes the instrument that brings complete socio-economic change in the society and urged the students to make full use of the tablets as they contain virtually everything that is needed for students to prepare themselves for the future. He said that the scheme was launched in 2013-14 to digitally empower the students, but there was a gap in its implementation in 2016-17 due to fund constraints. However, the government could make additional sanction for both class XI and XII students this year, he said. He also stressed the need for education department to continually update itself so that courses for students can be designed as per the demand of the times and enrich the students in a manner that they are capable of being employed as per the job spaces available.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh in his welcome address the Pine Mount International School conceptualized by the Chief Minister and strategically located near Tura on the riverside would help the students to get attuned to rural life.
