Shillong, Nov 12: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui announced on Wednesday 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.
“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, D from ₹15,000 to ₹35,000, and merit scholarships for primary (from ₹100 to ₹500) and upper primary (from ₹150 to ₹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 % 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.
On quality assurance, the education minister pointed out that only 25 colleges in Meghalaya are NAAC‑accredited, while 71 aided/unaided colleges remain unaccredited.
“So, we have decided to propose to the government to give Rs 1 crore fund to the State Higher Education Council (to support institutions seeking NAAC accreditation),” he said.
He informed that the dormant State Level Quality Assurance Council (SLQAC) will also be re‑activated to monitor standards from pre‑primary to university level.
“Not only accessibility but quality education across the entire spectrum—from pre‑primary to university—is our priority,” Rymbui concluded.
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