YUPIA, Sep 4: A consultative meeting to discuss the merger of zero and low enrolment schools under Sagalee Assembly Constituency was held here at the ZPC conference hall on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by Papum Pare ZPC Nabam Yakum.
A total of 58 schools with consistently low enrolment and zero enrolment have been tentatively identified for merger under Mengio and Sagalee Blocks. Out of these, 33 schools have zero enrolment and 25 schools have enrolment below 20, according to a district official.
Highlighting the objective of the meeting, DDSE T T Tara said, “The meeting aims to sensitize the stakeholders about the State Government’s intention to merge zero and low enrolment schools to pool resources, including experienced teachers, infrastructure, and educational materials to create a more vibrant and resourceful educational environment.”
“The Papum Pare district Education Department has prepared a tentative list of schools to be merged, which will require further consultations and consensus at the grassroot level,” added the DDSE while requesting all the ZPMs to further hold consultative meetings with the PRI members and intellectuals of the area concerned and complete the exercise by 15th of this month.
Addressing the gathering, Sagalee MLA Ratu Techi said the decision to merge zero and low enrolment schools was taken by the State Government after careful analysis and consultations with various stakeholders, including elected representatives, Govt officials, PRI members, teachers, student leaders, CBOs, and local communities.
“We understand that schools are at the heart of every community, and the decision to merge them is not taken lightly. However, it is essential to prioritize the quality of education our children receive. By merging these schools, we aim to ensure that every child has access to a comprehensive and well-rounded education,” Ratu added.
Emphasising on reviving the ‘hostel system’ and a ‘need based infrastructure mapping of all the merged schools’, the legislator added that “the government is committed to enhancing the infrastructures of receiving schools to accommodate the increased number of students, including the addition of new classrooms and the upgrading of existing facilities.”
He also stressed on completing the merger proposals and infrastructure mapping by 15th of September for onward submission to the government by 15th October, and ardently appealed to the ZPMs to initiate the consultative meetings immediately.
DPC Tang Moromi presented the report on enrolment status of the schools of Mengio and Sagalee blocks and also the proposed merger plan of few schools. (DIPRO)