In a collaborative effort between the State Project Office of Samagra Shiksha and Red FM, a roadshow awareness campaign was held here today to provide support and opportunities to out-of-school children between the ages of 15 to 19, enabling them to enroll in the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) Open Schooling System, with the ultimate goal of completing their education up to Class 12.
C Wankhar, State Out of School Children Coordinator, State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya, highlighted that the state is grappling with a school dropout rate of 21.70 percent and, in response, the Indian government has introduced NIOS through the State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya (SEMAM), also known as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
“The initiative aims to identify and support school dropout children, particularly those from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, by encouraging them to continue their education through NIOS,” she said.
The State Mission Coordinator also conveyed that there are 25 NIOS study centres in Meghalaya distributed across five districts – East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, Ri-Bhoi and East Garo Hills – SEMAM has put forward a proposal to launch 26 additional study centres in different districts.
In SWKH, a study centre has been introduced in the district at Maharam Government Higher Secondary School, Mawkyrwat.
Wankhar encouraged school dropouts to register and enrol themselves at the district’s study centre. She also urged parents of these children to visit the District Mission Coordinator Office or Block Mission Coordinator Office for online entry, with online registration into NIOS to follow once funds are received from the central government. “The initiative is open to children aged 15 to 19, offering classes from 9th to 12th grade,” she informed.
