Shillong: On Thursday, two prominent student unions in Meghalaya, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU), voiced strong opposition to a statement made by Education Minister Rakkam Sangma. The minister suggested that all colleges in Meghalaya should be affiliated with the Captain Williamson Sangma State University in Tura.
The unions expressed shock at the proposal, questioning whether the government had consulted with relevant stakeholders before making such a decision or if the government has yet to finalize this affiliation policy.
In a statement, the JSU declared their lack of support for the proposal, recommending that the state government seek consensus from various college bodies before making any decisions on affiliation. They emphasized that the government should not impose this affiliation on the colleges.
“While the JSU is not opposed to the establishment of the State University, it believes that the university is still in its infancy and may face administrative challenges. This move could also create inconveniences for colleges located in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, which comprise around 55 of the 74 colleges in the state. Therefore, the JSU strongly urges the government to refrain from enforcing this affiliation. Instead, the JSU suggests organizing a joint meeting with college bodies and student representatives to discuss the matter thoroughly,” the union stated.
The JSU also recommended that the state government engage in discussions with the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding the conduct of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) to prevent future issues.
They emphasized the need for more examination centers to facilitate easier access for students and suggested improving internet connectivity in areas where exams are held to ensure smooth biometric verification, minimizing inconvenience for students.
Furthermore, the JSU urged the government to request that the NTA reduce CUET application fees, as the current costs are prohibitively expensive for underprivileged students in the state.
KSU General Secretary Donald Thabah emphasized that, as the capital of Meghalaya, Shillong should be the base for authorities overseeing the education department to ensure convenience for the public.
Recalling an incident from 2005, the KSU noted that there were significant law and order issues following agitations led by the union demanding a regional administrative office of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) in Shillong. This demand stemmed from incidents such as the leak and shortage of question papers in Shillong.
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