Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 372/22

MEGHALAYA CELEBRATES 61ST TEACHERS DAY

5th September is celebrated as Teachers Day as a tribute to the contribution made by teachers to society. The day also commemorates the Birth Anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the former President of India and above all, a Teacher. Meghalaya also joined hands with the rest of India to celebrate the 61st Teachers Day today, the 5th September, 2022 with great fervour and exuberance. The Education Department, Government of Meghalaya, celebrated the day at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong in the august presence of the Education Minister, Government of Meghalaya, Shri. Lahkmen Rymbui as the Chief Guest.

While lauding the dedication of the teaching community of the State particularly during the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, where teachers played tremendous role in reaching out to the students through technology, the Minister said that it was not easy for teachers to transform formal classroom teaching to online teaching, yet with their hard work they were able to overcome all these hardships in providing the best services to the students. Acknowledging that teachers face numerous other challenges such as pay disparity and untimely disbursement of salary, the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment and continuous efforts in addressing these issues. He also stressed on the need for teachers to come up with various innovative methods for holistic development of the students.The Minister also congratulated Smti. Gamchi Timre R Marak, Head Teacher Educere Higher Secondary School, Williamnagar for being conferred the National Teacher Award 2022.

Meghalaya Government honours 13 mentors on Teachers Day in recognition of their contributions to the dedicated services. State Awards 1. Smti Lasubon Shullai, Assistant Teacher, Laittyra UP School, Laittyra 2. Shri. Dibiland Iawphniaw, Headmaster, Malaisohmat UP School, Phlangwanbroi 3. Smti. Sidamon Kurbah, Headmistress, Wahrit Govt. UP School 4. Smti. Bioles Lyngdoh, Assistant Teacher, Mawthawpdah Deficit UP School Mawthawpdah 5. Shri. Dipak Kumar Saha, Assistant Teacher, Govt. Boys Higher Secondary School, Jowai 6. Shri. Arun Kumar, Principal, Seinjait Tuber HS School, Tuber Kmaishnong 7. Shri. T P Tmung, Principal Umroi Presbyterian HS School, Umroi 8. Shri. Jeremias Kharbani, Headmaster, Mangsang Secondary School, East Garo Hills 9. Shri. Dominic Marak, Assistant Teacher, Don Bosco HS School, Mendal 10. Shri. Jairaj Chetry, Headmaster, Gorkha Deficit UP School, Tura 11. Smti. Hezillina T Sangma, Head Teacher, Akkonggre Govt. LP School 12. Smti. Dewbarlinda B Sangma, Headmistress, Ampati Deficit UP School 13. Shri. Lindstorm K Marak, Headmaster, Rugapara Deficit Secondary School

Besides the State Teachers Award, District Award was also conferred on 33 teachers from across the State. From East Khasi Hills, the District Award was presented to Smti. V Dipali Sharma Rao, Principal, Laban Assamese Girls HS School, Laban, for the Secondary Section Smti. Philosimai Syiem, Assistant Teacher, Nongkrem Govt. UP School, Nongkrem for the Upper Primary Section and Smti. Belinda Kharsati, Head Teacher, Pomlahier LP School for the Lower Primary Section.

Special Award for Inclusive School was conferred upon Smti. Josephine Lyngdoh, Special Educator, Mary Rice Centre for Special Education, Laitumkhrah, Shillong. Shri. Habandamon Rani of Seng Khasi HS School, Shillong and Smti. Deigracia A Shylla of Holy Child HS School, Shillong received the Scoutmaster and Guide award respectively.

Press Release No. 373/22

FOUNDATION STONE LAID FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW MYLLIEM BLOCK OFFICE BUILDING

C and RD Minister, Shri Hamletson Dohling today in the presence of MLA Nongkrem Constituency, Shri Lambor Malngiang laid the foundation stone for the construction of New Mylliem C and RD Block Office building at Block Headquarters, 5th Mile, Upper Shillong.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Dohling stated that the block offices act as bridges between the government and the public hence there is a need to improve the facilities for better service deliveries. He also informed that the government had sanctioned Rs 120 crores for the upgradation of 40 block offices in the state, with each block receiving Rs 3 crores each, while also informing that the upgradation of 6 blocks in the state have already completed.

The minister also praised the functioning of the Mylliem Block Office for their hard work in implementing the various state and central schemes, all the schemes received by the block have never gone to waste, he said. Shri Dohling also laid special emphasis on the success of SHGs formation in the block, which is due to the efforts and determination of the block office as well as the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society.

Press Release No. 374/22

GAMCHI TIMRE R. MARAK BRINGS HONOR TO MEGHALAYA, BAGS NATIONAL AWARD TO TEACHERS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Smt. Gamchi Timre R. Marak from Meghalaya today received the National Awards to Teachers honor, which she calls a hard earned title and her lifetime achievement. Marak is among the 45 selected awardees to be honored by the President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. She has been bestowed with this honor for her work as the Head Teacher of Educere Higher Secondary School at Samanda in Williamnagar, East Garo Hills District, Meghalaya. I am really very happy. This honor is not easy to get. It is a hard earned honor and a lifetime achievement for me, said Smt Marak, while sharing her story of shaping lives from a remote place.

While giving an account of her journey, Smt Marak highlighted the role of education in molding Williamnagar from its underdeveloped past to the developing present. “In the beginning our area was backward and people were poor…A very few were educated back then. My husband and I decided to shift to this place after he got a government job. We had two options to choose from and Williamnagar was one of them. Since Garo Hills needed us more, we chose this place, shared the National Award recipient.

Her experience in the social sector helped Marak in further realizing the need of the area, i.e. education. People really needed to be educated. The area had to be developed. Since I was working with NGOs, people started looking up to me. They wanted me to be a Teacher and so I finally decided to open a School, she said, recalling the lack of school and study culture during the inception days. Her goal was to make the children competent and confident enough to hold their heads high and walk shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the world. And she was able to achieve this with the social approach.

What is education if the social factor is not looked after? Everything starts from home. And the home was suffering. We had to look after the children’s mindset, their psychology. We have looked after them physically, socially, mentally and also spiritually, Smt Marak shared. The Head Teacher introduced soft skills in the curriculum for overall development of the children. I tried to incorporate counseling. I conducted youth counseling wherein experts came in and interacted with the children. I invited youth counselors so that they are aware of concerns like mental health, etiquette, HIV, drugs, etc.

The National Award Winning Teacher has started the concept of whole brain learning to train the right as well as left brain to hone the children academic as well as fine art skills. Her Mantra in guiding children is to understand that every child has different needs. Understanding a child mental makeup is very important to be able to properly teach them. I try to make our School a need based one and not just about the academics, she said. Additionally, she introduced Music, Taekwondo and agriculture to children.