Shillong, May 5: High dropout rates at the secondary school level in Meghalaya continue to be a pressing concern, largely due to students’ inability to pass the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations. Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma has acknowledged the issue and shared details of the government’s ‘multi-pronged approach’ to address both academic and infrastructural challenges.

According to Ministry Of Education’s Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2023-24 report, the average annual dropout rate at secondary level (Class 9-10) in Meghalaya is 22%. Meghalaya is behind only Bihar (25.6), Assam (25.1) and Karnataka (22.1) nationally.

“This is true. At the secondary level, most students drop out because they are unable to clear the SSLC examination for various reasons,” Sangma said. He pointed to multiple possible causes: “Maybe they are not well-versed with the concepts, maybe the questions were tough. There are not enough good teachers. The reason could be anything.”

To support students in difficult subjects, the Education Department has introduced QR code-enabled textbooks for mathematics and science. “To meet these challenges, we have introduced QR code textbooks for mathematics and science to help students,” the Minister said.

Sangma noted that the SSLC pass percentage this year stood at 87 percent, and students in the ICSE stream “performed very well.”

He also highlighted other contributing factors such as economic hardship and lack of access to schools. “Of course, we know where the problem lies and where we need to take action. Economic challenges and the distance to schools are major issues, and we are trying, step by step, to address them,” he said.

A key concern remains the lack of higher secondary schools in many rural areas. “In some rural areas, there are no higher secondary schools, and families cannot afford to send their children farther. That’s why we are upgrading secondary schools to higher secondary schools,” he explained.

In addition to infrastructure, Sangma emphasized the emotional and logistical challenges faced by students. “The problem is they don’t have a proper platform to take admission,” he said. He added that the government is focusing on encouraging both teachers and students. “We are working to motivate and support them.”

The Minister stressed the importance of creating an environment that promotes learning and ambition. “The crux of the matter is that we should make the State a good atmosphere for study. If Shillong can provide a strong academic environment, students will aspire to come here for higher education,” he said.

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