Meghalaya Speaker Abu Taher Mondal inaugurates Al-Amin Minority Education Institute in New Bhaitbari, West Garo Hills on Thursday. Picture by Saidul Khan

Tura, Feb. 6: Meghalaya Speaker Abu Taher Mondal today stressed the need for quality education in the plains belt areas of the Garo hills. He said private investment in the education sector was the need of the hour.

Mondal was speaking at the inauguration of the first minority school in the Garo hills at New Bhaitbari, about 75 km from here.

Al-Amin minority educational institute is funded by the Anti-Corruption League, a non-governmental organisation founded by Abdul Jalil and Mostapha Kabir.

“We have taken a firm decision to run a value-based minority institute to develop the education system through modern technology,” Kabir said.

The Speaker asked the management to ensure that quality education is imparted at all cost and assured that the school would receive the benefits of government schemes.

“I will ensure that efforts for improving the education scenario in the region is taken care of”, Mondal said.

He also laid emphasis on education for girls. He urged parents to encourage their girls to go to school. He also asked educated youths to imbibe good virtues and participate in the nation-building process.

The Speaker urged youths to be involved in community development activities.

He asked the school management to not get influenced and recruit qualified teachers. “Wealth is not above education”, he said.

The plain belt area comprises of Tikrikilla, Phulbari, Rajabala and Bhaitbari. Three legislators represent it in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. Mondal represents Phulbari constituency. The area is dominated by Muslims and is socio-economically more backward than rest of the Garo hills.

Al-Amin school aims to provide quality education to underprivileged students, irrespective of caste and creed. The English medium school will also teach Arabic to Muslim students. The school will host classes from nursery to Class VI. The academic session begins next month.

From next year, the school will offer courses up to Class X.