Sona advocates learning from past mistakes

EDUCATIONAL POLICIES

TEZU, Sep 19: Education minister Pasang Dorjee Sona on Thursday emphasized the importance of learning from past mistakes to formulate better policies and make informed decisions during his visit to Lohit district for a follow-up meeting of the Chintan Shivir-cum-Education Conclave.

Accompanied by a team from the education department, Sona on the day inspected two key institutions—Government Higher Secondary School I and GHSS 2.

Addressing a meeting later the day, he stressed the necessity of creating a sustainable educational model and urged department officials to adopt a proactive approach. Acknowledging potential resistance to initiatives such as school mergers, he advised managing these challenges effectively.

The minister introduced the concept of "reverse engineering," highlighting the need for proper input and support from district officials to achieve the desired outcomes.

He also underscored the importance of mapping infrastructure gaps within the district’s education sector, committing to address these issues on a priority basis.

Sona warned that state-level policies must align with local realities, cautioning that policies developed without an understanding of regional needs could result in negative consequences.

Local MLA Mohesh Chai called for the expedited completion and operationalization of the engineering college in the district.

He discussed the potential renaming of IGGC College and urged the government to consider teacher transfers and postings based on necessity. Chai further emphasized the importance of ensuring quality in projects before granting no objection certificates (NOCs) for proper fund utilization and recommended constructing boundary walls around schools for enhanced security.

During the meeting, Lohit deputy commissioner Shashvat Saurabh delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the current educational scenario in the district. He outlined various challenges faced by the district and proposed solutions, including rationalizing teacher distribution and the benefits of consolidating schools based on need.

Education secretary Duly Kamduk spoke on the importance of efficient planning to ensure resources are effectively used. He advocated for proposals to be grounded in feasibility and necessity while avoiding duplication.

Kamduk suggested repurposing unused school buildings for other educational activities and urged district authorities to provide accurate and timely reports on the educational situation, reminding block education officers of their responsibility to take classes during their off time.

The meeting was attended by ADC Kunal Yadav, DDSE Tumngam Nyodu, along with several heads of departments and PRI members.