CM continues interaction with students, shares Quality Education plans with the young at Pakyong

GANGTOK, 29 July [IPR]: After Ravangla and Gangtok, the Chief Minister interacted with students and teachers of five constituencies under Pakyong and Rongli sub divisions of East Sikkim at the St. Xavier’s School, Pakyong, today. Addressing the students under the Orientation Programme on Quality Education and Development organized by the Human Resources Development Department, the Chief Minister announced a cash prize of Rs. One lakh, Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 50,000 for the first, second and third state toppers respectively of arts, science and commerce streams in Class XII from the next academic session and also the same amount to the first, second and third toppers of Class X board examination.
The Chief Minister also announced enhancement in the cash award incentive for Olympic medal winners and declared to award Rs. 2 crore, Rs. One crore and Rs. 50,00,000 to gold, silver and bronze medal winners respectively in the Olympic Games.
The address of the Chief Minister revolved around quality education, role of teachers, students and the society as an education family and its relationship to the development of society. He talked about the holistic approach to be adopted for the transformation of society through life oriented and value based quality education.
Highlighting the role of teachers in shaping the children for their future, the Chief Minister said that teachers carry the responsibility to prepare children to face future challenges of life. Besides imparting text book education, the teachers should impart life-oriented education amongst the students, he said.
It is essential to prepare a professional and a skilled human being but it is even more important to prepare a person who values life and the society around him - a nice person who can be an asset to the society, he stressed.
The Chief Minister urged the teachers to be responsible enough to shoulder the responsibility of shaping the future of the students.
Highlighting the programmes and schemes initiated by the government for the development of human resource of the state, the Chief Minister advised the students to be serious, honest and dedicated in their studies and take maximum benefit from the opportunities provided by the government in this sector. Besides the Chief Minister Meritorious Scholarship Scheme and many more scholarship programmes of the government, the state government has a scheme named CM Special Scholarship Scheme under which cent percent sponsorship is provided to those students who get admission in top 20 universities of the world, he informed and added that two students are  being benefitted under this scheme.
Establishment of ATTC, CCCT, ITI, Agriculture Post harvesting College, medical, engineering, management institutes, skill development, capacity building and livelihood schools was with a youth oriented vision to create professionals which  guarantees placement to our professionals, who graduate from these institutes, throughout the world.
Many youths of the state are being benefitted through placement in reputed service sectors as a result of the  Capacity building and Skill development programme of the state government which are being appreciated and replicated in other parts of the country. This is a result of vision oriented schemes initiated by the government in human resource development sector, he said.
Talking about the future plans of the government in the human resource development the Chief Minister said that the government is planning to sponsor students for the coaching courses for IAS and allied services, defense services, English language and many more other examinations. The government is also trying to obtain state quota for aeronautical engineering for the children of our state. E-textbooks and teaching in digital format is also on the anvil of the government, he added. The government also has a programme of establishing SRM University for technical education and hotel management institute in every district of the state in order to cater to the demand of ever increasing service industry of the world.
The Minister HRDD NK Pradhan in his address deliberated on the rights and responsibilities of teachers, students and the society under Right to Education Act. The Minister said that the concept of responsibility on education has changed through this act. The responsibility of education under this act not only lies on the teachers but also to the students, parents and the society as a whole.
Earlier, Secretary HRDD said that the orientation programme has been organized to motivate the students and teachers for quality education, build confidence in the minds of the students and to enable them to choose the right path. Besides this it is also to create awareness about the opportunities made available and facilities provided in education sector amongst the students, teachers and parents, he added.