Baghmara, March 4: Raising the bar on providing higher education to areas beyond Tura, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has announced that a decision has been taken to start Commerce and Science streams in the government colleges of Williamnagar, Baghmara and Sohra.

The chief minister made this announcement during Monday’s inauguration of the Academic Block and the hostels for girls and boys in Captain Williamson Memorial Government College in Baghmara.

“A decision has been taken to begin commerce and science streams in the three government colleges and soon the cabinet will meet to officially clear it,” announced the chief minister to the applause of the crowds in Baghmara.

Presently, due to absence of science and commerce streams in government institutions, thousands of girls and boys from rural areas travel to Tura to seek admission in the Tura Government College and Don Bosco College.

In the process they incur tremendous expenditure having to stay in private hostels or taking up rent. Many students from weaker sections of society, despite having the calibre for science and commerce, are compelled to stay back in the rural areas.

Aiming to end this problem, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the government is keen to raise the bar on science and commerce given the immense potential possessed by the youth of the state.

“We have seen for ourselves the kind of keenness and enthusiasm our students have for science and mathematics. In many chess competitions where mathematical analysis mind is required we have found our young students excel with flying colours. Without talent and training how can it be possible unless there is science and mathematics acumen among our youth, We only need to provide them with the opportunity,” says the chief minister as he laid out his government’s intention to expand facilities for these two critical streams in the state.

If everything works out, the state government is keen to begin science and commerce streams in Williamnagar, Baghmara and Sohra as early as the next academic session which is due sometime in May and June of this year.

In recent years, Garo Hills and Khasi Hills have witnessed multiple students topping in maths and science from the rural areas during the annual SSLC exams.

The chief minister said that in previous years almost 99 percent of education time revolved in the playing of internal politics until recent reforms took off.

The reforms have also led to a massive sprucing up of existing infrastructure in schools, particularly in the crucial lower primary section.

“Now more than 2000 govt LP schools are under repairs, more than 300 govt LP schools are getting new buildings and classes, most govt higher and secondary school buildings have gotten new buildings and many have been inaugurated,” announced the chief minister in Baghmara.

CM’s Scholarship for Higher Secondary students

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed that Scholarships are being increased for students and a new CM’s Scholarship is going to be provided for meritorious students from higher secondary schools.