SHILLONG, NOVEMBER 12: Meghalaya Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui announced today that the state government is intensifying efforts to curb the high dropout rate in higher education and improve academic quality across Meghalaya.
Addressing media persons after chairing a meeting of the State Higher Education Council (SHEC), Rymbui said the council, established through a 2018 Assembly Act, is being revived to advise the government and oversee implementation of key reforms.
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“The issue of high dropout rate in higher education is a real concern,” Rymbui said, noting that the MDA government has already enhanced accessibility by opening people’s colleges in remote locations such as Shangpung, Khliehriat, Nongtalang, Mawphlang, Mawsynram, Rongjeng, Patharkhmah, Umsning, Dalu and Chokpot, and by establishing the Captain Williamson Sangma State University and an engineering college.
He added that financial constraints also contribute to attrition, prompting the state to increase scholarships.
In 2020, the government raised the scholarship for groups A, B, C and D from Rs.15,000 to Rs.35,000, and merit scholarships for primary (from Rs.100 to Rs.500) and upper primary (from Rs.150 to Rs.700).
The Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme, introduced this year with no income cap, further eases the burden.
Rymbui highlighted the skewed stream distribution, with 82.3 per cent of Class XII graduates opting for Arts, citing limited science and commerce options. To address this, the state has upgraded all government secondary schools to higher secondary level.
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On quality assurance, the education minister pointed out that only 25 colleges in Meghalaya are NAAC accredited, while 71 aided and unaided colleges remain unaccredited.
