Shillong Sept 20: The Meghalaya cabinet has approved the education policy after a long wait of more than 46 years since 1972.

The education policy got its approval from the state cabinet during a meeting chaired by chief minister, Conrad K. Sangma here on Friday evening.

There has been no education policy for over 46 years after Meghalaya was created in 1972.

Education Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui told reporters that the education policy would be a a road map for the state especially in its achieving the objective of ensuring quality education in the state.

“Implementing the policy will not be easy especially when the state has many challenges including categories of schools and teachers. But there is a process to implement the policy along with plans of action,” he said.

The Meghalaya Cabinet has also approved the proposal to table an official resolution in Assembly during the ongoing Autumn Session to urge the Centre to include Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

The five-day Autumn Session of the 10th Meghalaya Assembly began on Friday and will conclude on September 27.

After the cabinet meeting, Deputy Chief minister, Prestone Tynsong told reporters that the resolution will be tabled in the House to urge the Centre to include Khasi and Garo languages in the Eight Schedule.

Tynsong said that the two local languages prominent in Meghalaya which required official recognition in the country.

On the need to form a committee for an in-depth study on Garo language, Tynsong said that the government would first table the resolution in Assembly and get it passed, and then take a call on such requirement.

In 2005, the Meghalaya Assembly passed the Meghalaya Language Act which recognised Khasi and Garo as the state’s associate official languages. English also continued to be the official language till date as no other language links the Khasi, Jaiñtia and the Garo communities.

The demand to include Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule has been pending for many years.

The Meghalaya government had in the past constituted a committee which comprised of experts, particularly linguists who carried out works in order to get Khasi language listed in the Eight Schedule.

The Khasi language has fulfilled almost all criterias laid down by the Union ministry of home affairs.

The Khasi Authors’ Society will also take out a big rally here on Saturday to pressurize the state and the Centre to push its demand to include the Khasi language in the Eight Schedule.