Meghalaya CM says purpose of education not merely academic excellence but nurturing life skills among students

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 28, 2025

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday emphasized that the primary purpose of education is not merely academic excellence but also personality development, confidence building, and nurturing life skills among students.

Addressing the SPARK Summit 2025 held at the District Auditorium, Tura, Sangma stated that the SPARK initiative has proven how simple yet focused interventions in communication, soft skills, positive thinking, and kindness can significantly transform young minds.

He reiterated that in today’s world, communication, articulation, resilience and a positive attitude are as important as academic qualifications and added that the SPARK initiative is equipping students with these vital skills to prepare them for future challenges.

He also shared how the SPARK programme has brought visible changes in students’ behaviour, confidence, and academic engagement across schools in West Garo Hills. He specifically mentioned how the programme has helped in breaking inhibitions among students, improving their speaking abilities and developing critical thinking.

The Chief Minister assured that the Government of Meghalaya is deeply committed to strengthening the education sector and will continue to support innovative initiatives like SPARK to bridge learning gaps and nurture well-rounded individuals.

Speaking on the role of teachers and schools he appreciated the dedicated efforts of teachers and school leaders in making the programme successful and encouraged them to sustain the momentum. He urged teachers to lead by example and inspire students to adopt the principles of kindness, discipline, and resilience in their daily lives.

The Chief Minister through a detailed presentation shared his vision of building a generation of confident, kind, and responsible citizens who will contribute positively to society. He mentioned that initiatives like SPARK are in line with the broader goals of the government’s education policy focused on holistic learning, emotional well-being and leadership development. He also encouraged parents, community leaders and local bodies to actively engage with schools and support programmes like SPARK to ensure that the values of kindness, resilience and articulation are inculcated at home and in the community.

The Chief Minister concluded by stating that the Government will explore scaling up the SPARK initiative to other districts, making it a model programme for holistic student development across Meghalaya.

The summit marked the celebration of a year of milestones under the SPARK Programme (School Programmes in Articulation, Resilience, and Kindness), an initiative of the Department of Education, Government of Meghalaya, under Samagra Shiksha.

 H M Shangpliang, Advisor to the Government of Meghalaya, Department of Education; Swapnil Tembe, Secretary, Education and Director of School Education & Literacy and State Project Director, SEMAM-SSA; Jagdish Chelani, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills along with Principals of various schools in Garo Hills region and other dignitaries were also present.

Advisor H M Shangpliang, in his address, commended the efforts of teachers and students under SPARK and encouraged schools to continue fostering positive values and skill-building among children.

Earlier in the programme, Secretary and State Project Director Swapnil Tembe presented the SPARK Outcomes Report, sharing insights into the key achievements of the initiative.

The programme had testimonials from students and teachers who shared their experiences and the impact of SPARK on their personal and academic growth.

The summit also highlighted the “Plasticured” initiative in collaboration with AI-VI.IN, Bangalore, encouraging responsible resource use and sustainable practices among students.

The programme concluded with the distribution of tablets and felicitation of school principals, teachers, and students for their leadership and achievements under SPARK. Cultural performances by students of Dadenggre Puri Government Higher Secondary School and Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Tura, added vibrancy to the event.