Shillong, Aug 14: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday inaugurated the New Extension School Building of Synod Higher Secondary School under the Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya, a programme that is assisted by Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Also present during the inauguration were MLA, North Shillong, Adelbert Nongrum, and former MLA, North Shillong, Roshan Warjri.

The Chief Minister also launched the school website.

Delivering his address, the Chief Minister expressed his happiness in creating the additional infrastructure for the school which would immensely benefit the students. The amount Rs 3.69 crore was spent which included not only the building but construction of computer laboratories, furniture and other infrastructures.

“There are many such schools which have been developed throughout the State under the human development programme which the government tool up jointly with ADB,” he informed.

He said that 62 schools have been completed, 55 more are in progress and four DIET and Teachers’ Training Institutes, ten pilot projects for Science laboratories and ten pilot projects for Computer laboratories, teachers training and training for youth are being taken up under the Human Capital Development Programme.

Stating that human development is going to be the biggest challenge, he said that realizing the importance of human development, the government was keen to take forward the second phase of this programme.

The Chief Minister further informed that around four to five lakh youth will join the workforce in the coming years and it is important to provide them with the right skill and to ensure that jobs are created. “With the kind of enthusiasm, support and work put in by all stakeholders, we can achieve and overcome all challenges of developing the human resource,” the Chief Minister said.

“It is sad to see so many assets that have been created are not utilized by various departments. But whatever investment we have put in this building, the returns will be manifold because the return that educational institutes give back to the society has always been immense,” he said.