East Garo Hills gets Eklavya residential school

Shillong: Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma on Friday inaugurated the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Samanda, Rikwarenggre, in East Garo Hills district, officially marking the start of its academic session.Speaking at the event, Sangma said, “The school will be a transformative institution for tribal students, offering free, residential, and quality education.” He emphasised that beyond academics, the EMRS would foster holistic development through sports, skill training, and the preservation of cultural heritage.“Education is the biggest agent of change and the biggest development for a nation, state, and society,” he said, adding that investment in quality schools and colleges would yield long-term benefits for the youth.The CM said the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) syllabus has been upgraded, the examination system streamlined, and the introduction of CM Impact Books for Class X students contributed to a 96% pass rate in last year’s SSLC examinations. He further announced that renovation efforts would be extended to Ad Hoc, SSA, and deficit schools, and confirmed that the pay structure of SSA teachers has been finalized.

Sangma said there are currently 38 EMRS schools across Meghalaya and expressed gratitude to the Union ministry of tribal affairs and the Prime Minister for their support. He also announced funding for 20 computers under the CM’s special development fund and assured that telecom connectivity issues would be taken up with the concerned authorities.Principal M Nandagopal explained that EMRS is an initiative of the Union ministry of tribal affairs, launched in 1997-98 to provide quality residential education to scheduled tribe students in remote areas. Each school is designed to accommodate about 480 students and is equipped with modern facilities, including science and computer laboratories and libraries.The schools follow the CBSE curriculum to ensure students remain academically competitive, in line with the govt’s objective of establishing such institutions in tribal-dominated blocks.