Although it has faced plenty of criticism from certain quarters about dumbing down education in the state, South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai has leapt to the defence of the CM IMPACT guidebook, which the government has cited in taking credit for the higher SSLC pass percentage this year.
Shullai, whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is part of the governing coalition, credited the Chief Minister for the guidebook initiative.
The MLA said that it has helped the socio-economically disadvantaged students who would not be able to afford good private institutes or extra tuition.
Defending the initiative further, he said that many average or below average students gained from the guidebooks to help them clear their exams.
The overall pass percentage for the SSLC results, announced earlier this month, stood at 87.10 per cent. This figure sets a new record, surpassing last year’s 55.80 per cent pass rate.
Shullai also said that such measures could help Meghalaya achieve 100 per cent literacy and help more disadvantaged students get government jobs. He slammed critics of the guidebooks for, he said, “trying to hype the issue.”
“Education is not only for the learned scholars and professionals but is also meaningful for those who are working in different sectors with greater benefits for the deprived sections,” a press release signed by Shullai stated.
