Shillong, Oct 22: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today inaugurated two key infrastructure projects in Gambegre-the renovated Rimrangpara Higher Secondary School and the Integrated Block Development Complex of Gambegre, along with a digital library and SBI ATM.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Gambegre MLA Mehtab Chandee A. Sangma, Chokpot MLA Sengchim Sangma and Gambegre Aking Nokma Chekme Ch Marak, who donated land for the block complex and was felicitated.
Speaking at Rimrangpara HS School, the CM said education gets the highest priority with Rs 4,000 crore out of Rs 20,000 crore annual spend.
“For a long time students and teachers managed in a building that badly needed repair. Rs 14 lakh was sanctioned through Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund. The fund exists to respond quickly when a community tells us what it needs most,” he said.
He said over 75 per cent children in Garo Hills earlier failed SSLC, but this year pass percentage is 86.84 per cent in SSLC and above 83 per cent in Higher Secondary. Meghalaya’s Performance Grading Index has risen from 448 in 2024 to 525.71 in 2026.
Under Mission Education, over 2,000 schools have been upgraded, with 80 new buildings inaugurated in a single day on September 23. He said the government has also opened 23 People’s Colleges, new college buildings at Baghmara and Williamnagar, college at Mahendraganj, State University and Engineering College in Shillong.
The CM admitted gaps remain in electricity, water, internet, labs and teachers, and said a school-by-school roadmap is being prepared. He flagged the skewed ratio – 9,000 Government LP schools against only 500 Higher Secondary and 80 colleges – as the biggest bottleneck.
Mehtab said she saw the school’s leaking roofs during her bye-election campaign and thanked the CM for immediate support through CMSDF. She urged support for more higher secondary schools in rural Garo Hills to check dropouts after Class X and sought a gallery for Rimrangpara playground.
At Gambegre Block, the CM said all 56 C&RD Blocks are being upgraded for the first time in Meghalaya’s history.
The Gambegre complex, built at Rs 3 crore, is one of 40 complexes sanctioned in 2022-23. Of these, 34 are complete and six are at 99.53 per cent progress. Garo Hills has the largest share with 17 complexes. In West Garo Hills, Gambegre, Selsella, Rongram, Tikrikilla and Dalu are complete, Dadenggre is at 99 per cent.
Demdema Block was inaugurated June 3, 2025, while Batabari Block has been sanctioned at Rs 4.5 crore.
The complex will deliver all public services like caste certificate and EPIC at block level and will soon house a CM Connect Centre for scheme facilitation and grievance registration.
