SHILLONG, MAY 23: The All Garo Hills SSA School Teachers Association (AGHSSASTA-CB) felicitated Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma at Matchakolgre LP School Playground in Tura on Friday for his “efforts, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment” to SSA teachers and the education sector.

Marking the occasion, the Chief Minister launched the MBOSE E-Office Management System and Accounting System to boost transparency and financial accountability, and flagged off 27 vehicles to strengthen field-level monitoring by education officials.

The Chief Minister’s Leadership in Education and Development (CM LEAD) Fellowship was also launched to place young professionals in all 12 districts to support implementation and innovation across nearly 8,000 government and government-aided schools.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said, “Many times, the hard work of officials and teachers goes unrecognised and unappreciated despite the immense responsibilities they shoulder.”

Recalling his father’s legacy, he added, “Late PA Sangma always accorded the greatest priority to education. Even during his student days, he used to tutor others and conduct small classes. He would often say that teaching is one of the most satisfying professions.” “Based on these principles, we are trying to bring reforms and meaningful changes in the education sector,” he said, noting that “the education sector has different layers, categories, sub-categories, groups, and sections, and therefore reforms are never easy.”

On SSA teachers’ issues, the Chief Minister stated, “I have been trying to resolve the issues of SSA teachers since my days as a Member of Parliament… I understand that the problems faced by SSA teachers are not only about salary, but also about dignity and security.”

Congratulating the Education Department and MBOSE on improved SSLC results, he said, “The improvement in pass percentage has been possible because of different interventions undertaken by the Government, including initiatives like the CM IMPACT guidebooks.”

He stressed learning outcomes over marks. “There is a big difference between simply knowing the answer and truly understanding the concept… Not just marks and pass percentages, but real knowledge, conceptual understanding, and learning outcomes among children must improve.”

On monitoring, he said officials who earlier used personal vehicles can now conduct “surprise visits… interact with students and identify issues relating to infrastructure, furniture, teaching materials, or teaching quality. Unless we understand the problems clearly, we cannot solve them effectively.”

“Today we are reforming education, spending money, creating infrastructure, and providing materials, but real improvement in quality must happen at the micro level — not just at the school level, but at the level of every individual student,” he emphasised.

“Every student must be given special attention.”

Urging a shift in mindset, he told teachers, “I hope that when you wake up every morning, your first thought is not about the association, salary issues, or who is visiting your district. The thought should be about how to improve every single child in your classroom… Until and unless there is a change in mindset and a deeper sense of purpose about why we are here as teachers, transformation in education cannot truly happen.”

“I always believe that we are all born to serve. I am born to serve the people, and each one of you is born to serve the children you teach,” he said.

Assuring support, he added, “We will continue to work together to resolve as many of your problems as possible… I believe in honest words. I believe in acting on those honest words. I believe in delivering what we promise, and I believe in remaining humble while doing so.”

Commissioner and Secretary, Education, Vijay Kumar Mantri highlighted ongoing reforms in governance, transparency, and technology. AGHSSASTA-CB President Labingstone G Momin thanked the Chief Minister for “prioritising the welfare of teachers and continuously investing in the education sector.”

The event featured Wangala dance and cultural presentations by SSA teachers from Ampati, and concluded with a vote of thanks by AGHSSASTA-CB Adviser Nilloy G. Momin.