Editor,
\nThrough the columns of this newspaper I extend my full support to the concerns raised by P. Marbaniang regarding the Education Department\u2019s decision to conduct the SSLC Examination for academic session 2026-27 in December 2026. This decision will have serious implications for students, teachers, and the overall quality of education in our state.
\nDecember is meant for syllabus revision, pre-board examinations, and clearing doubts. If SSLC is held in December, students will have to appear for the Board exams immediately after completing the syllabus, with no time for proper revision and preparation.
\nThe CBSE model clearly shows why February-March is the ideal time. In CBSE, classes run from April to March. The syllabus is completed by November. December and January are used for revision and pre-boards. Board exams are held in February-March, and results are declared in May. This allows students to join Class XI in June without any gap. If Meghalaya conducts SSLC in December, results will come by February. Students will then have to wait 4 to 5 months till June-July for Class XI admission. This long gap will cause academic loss and put our students at a disadvantage compared to their CBSE peers in NEET, JEE and other entrance preparations.
\nThe academic loss this year is already severe. Many teachers are engaged by the ECI as BLOs and for Census duties. In addition, teachers are also being deployed for the upcoming by-elections. In many schools there is an acute shortage of teachers and no substitute arrangement is available. As a result, classes remain without a teacher for days. Effective teaching, particularly for specialised subjects, is not possible. Since BLO and election duties will continue for months, there will be insufficient time to complete the syllabus and conduct proper revision before a December examination.
\nDecember is also the peak of the festive season in Meghalaya. It is not appropriate to burden students with the most important exam of their school life during Christmas and New Year.
\nMost importantly, this decision directly affects teacher welfare and the evaluation process. Except in government schools, most teachers in private and mission schools do not get Earned Leave. December and January are the only months they get to visit their villages and spend time with family. If exams are held in December, teachers will be on exam duty during the festive season. Worse, who will correct thousands of answer scripts in the freezing cold of January? Evaluation centers in Shillong and other hill areas have little or no heating. With January temperatures of 4\u00b0C to 8\u00b0C, it is extremely difficult for teachers to sit for 30-40 days and evaluate fairly. Tired and cold teachers cannot do justice to students\u2019 papers, and this will directly affect the quality and fairness of results.
\nIn view of these academic, social and administrative reasons, I strongly urge the Education Department of Meghalaya to reconsider the decision and retain February for conducting SSLC examinations. This will align us with the national academic calendar, give students adequate preparation time, respect our cultural values, and protect teachers\u2019 welfare.
\nI hope the authorities will give due consideration to this matter.
\nYours etc.,
\nR. Wanshnong
\nShillong<\/p>\n
Editor,
\nIndia\u2019s youth made their voices heard on the streets recently, firstly in Delhi which compelled the Modi Government to force the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Similar protests are going on in Jharkhand for the last 14 days
\nHere the question arises: why are these voices not heard in the temples of democracy- the Parliament and state assemblies? One straight answer is that the elected representatives holding power are ignorant of the youth\u2019s strength. Moreover, the answer may lie in a set of revealing data.
\nThe demographic cohort that falls in the age bracket of 14-29-Gen Z in the popular parlance \u2013 may, according to some estimates, comprise over 25% of the country\u2019s population. Yet their cumulative representation in Parliament and legislatures reads 6 MPs and 20 MLAs, respectively, at present. One reason for these abysmal figures is the minimum age for contesting polls \u2013 25 years. Does this need to change to make Parliament inclusive of the youth? For Rajya Sabha this age is 30 years
\nTellingly, the disparity remains even when the age bracket is raised to 40. There are only 397 legislators who are under 40 years out of a total of over 4,000 MLAs in the country. The anomaly-irony-gets sharper because India\u2019s youth quotient in the total population is set to rise even as their political representation remains seriously skewed.
\nThe consequences of a Parliament or an assembly of ageing public representatives are many. The demands and the anxieties of the youth \u2013 an important demographic capital\u2014remain unheard in the corridors of power and policy.
\nThe present government\u2019s initial apathy to the youth protest signifies this institutional myopia. Fewer young members also encourage political parties to remain cartels of seniority. Leaders\u2019 experience is often touted as a fig leaf, but this robs parties of the dynamism, energy and imagination that the youth can bring to the table. The most serious repercussion, arguably, is the lack of an even playing field, in tandem with the indifference, even occasional condescension, of senior leaders, this turns the youth cynical about politics and its institutions.
\nThe Cockroach Janta Party\u2019s popularity among the youth can be attributed to their disdain for a traditional, entrenched, unresponsive political coterie. Strikingly, the CJP has decided to shun the lure of transforming itself into a political force, choosing instead to flex its growing weight as a collective pressure group. India\u2019s revered politicians must reflect on this growing trust deficit between young adults and their public representatives
\nIn Bihar traditional parties lost their traditional base and a new entrant won the election; this indicates that India needs young lawmakers.
\nYours etc.,
\nYash Pal Ralhan,
\nVia email<\/p>\n
The Tricolour is Hoisted on Independence Day<\/p>\n
Editor,
\nThe news item \u201cTricolour to adorn M\u2019laya homes as Har Ghar Tiranga begins to-day\u201d (ST, 9 August 2026), which mentions that the Chief Minister will \u201cunfurl the tricolour,\u201d appears inconsistent with the provisions of the Flag Code of India, 2002.
\nUnder the said Code, the National Flag is to be hoisted on Independence Day. This means that the flag, tied at the base, is to be raised upwards during the ceremony. In contrast, the National flag is to be unfurled -meaning the flag already positioned at the top is to be simply opened\u2014during the Republic Day celebration. This distinction is not merely ceremonial but explicitly codified in the Flag Code of India, 2002, making \u201choisting\u201d the legally correct procedure for 15 August and not \u201cunfurling\u201d.
\nYours etc.,
\nD. Bhattacharjee,
\nShillong-1<\/p>\n