Tura: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma and school education and literacy minister Deborah Marak on Friday laid the foundation for Ampati Engineering College at Ampati in the South West Garo Hills, the first engineering college of Garo hills and the second for Meghalaya.
Mukul said an amount of Rs 41 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of the college.
Laying the foundation of the college, Mukul said it would attract a lot of students and generate other ancillary business opportunities for the local communities. "Establishing an engineering college and investing in education can bring overall transformation in the socio-economic landscape," he said.
Mukul said our education system has been providing certificates and degrees but has failed to produce productive workforce. "Every child born should be provided with the education they deserve so that they are capable of competing and becoming an asset to the nation," he added.
Mukul also announced the foundation for Captain Williamson Technical University in Tura and College of Science and Commerce at Mahendraganj will be laid soon.
Programme launched: Mukul also launched the skill development programme - Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya - under the Asian Development Bank assisted project here on Friday. The programme was organised by Meghalaya State Skill Development Society, Shillong.
"We need to create opportunities for people in our own backyard so that they do not go outside the state and look for opportunities," he said, adding that migration of youth to other states for further studies and career-related options is posing a threat to the matrilineal system of society.
Principal secretary M.S. Rao said the skill development programme is a $125 million project and during the first phase Don Bosco Tech Society would train about 7,000 youth of the state in different trades comprising beauty and wellness, hospitality, information and technology, tourism, health, security amongst others with special focus on integrated farming.
