Raphael Warjri

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma stated that the state government was in the process of identifying 50 schools across the state that would receive building grants for the construction of additional classrooms to facilitate the introduction of higher secondary sections.

He mentioned that the scheme would be implemented in both government and private institutions, depending on need and subject to specific criteria set by the Education Department, such as student enrolment and academic performance in previous years. He noted that selected schools would be eligible for a one-time building grant of up to ₹50 lakh.

The Chief Minister made these remarks while inaugurating four newly constructed classrooms at Bidanchi Higher Secondary School in Tura, which were funded through the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund (CMSDF). He also announced an additional grant of ₹10 lakh to the school to support the introduction of its higher secondary section from the current academic session.

He pointed out that government initiatives like the CM–IMPACT guidebooks had contributed to improved outcomes in the SSLC exams, especially in rural areas where the pass percentage had previously been around 25 percent. He said this year’s results were more encouraging, and he was personally pleased that a larger number of students had cleared the exams and would now have the opportunity to pursue further education, despite some criticism.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the newly established “Active Learning Centre” at Bidanchi School and commended the institution's management for its enduring commitment to education in the face of various challenges.

He emphasized that investments in education were essential for the future of the state and the country, adding that the government remained committed to enhancing grassroots educational infrastructure and ensuring inclusive, quality education for all.