The Meghalaya government is fully seized of the problem of school dropouts and is working on the problem, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said today.
However, the state government has no definitive figure for the number of dropouts in Meghalaya. There has been growing concern that the problem is a very real one and is getting worse due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and its disruption of schooling.
The minister emphasized the need for classroom teaching because there is a massive difference between online and classroom teaching.
“Classroom teaching must be done and that’s why we’ve already given the order that schools can be reopened though for urban areas this is from class and 6 above. Classroom teaching is a must for engaging students. The students' interaction with the teacher and classmates enhances their capability and capacity for learning,” Rymbui said.
Asked about the Union Budget, wherein it was announced that the Centre will expand the One Class One TV Channel initiative to 200 channels from the existing 20, Rymbui appreciated the move but said that rural areas face a constraint compared to urban settings.
“The Budget speaks about a digital university and there is an increase in allocation of funds compared to last year. We haven’t studied the nitty-gritty of the budget, however”, the minister said.
