A new clause allowing private applicants to register and be admitted for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination (SSLC/Class 10) under the Meghalaya Board of School Education was approved today by the Meghalaya Cabinet. This decision will make it easier for students to finish Class 10 if they were unable to pass the matriculation test earlier or had to drop out after Class 8 for a variety of reasons. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma stated, “We are confident this step will encourage many to return, complete their education, and build a better future.” Additionally, Community-Integrated Skill Learning (CISL), a structured curriculum component for Classes VI through X, has been authorized by the Cabinet.
For Classes VI through X, Health and Physical Education is currently given as a sixth topic. Its content is mostly restricted to textbooks and theoretical knowledge on health and physical activities. The Cabinet has agreed to include Community-Integrated Skill Learning into this topic to make it more engaging and meaningful. Pupils will be urged to choose and acquire one or more useful talents that fit with their hobbies and background in their families or communities. For instance, a student may decide to acquire agricultural skills directly from a parent who works as a farmer. In a similar vein, abilities used by other family members or residents of the neighborhood might be investigated. The selected skill must be actively learned, practiced, and shown by the learner.
This initiative has a number of significant advantages, including skill development because students will gain useful, productive skills that they can use in their future lives; occupational continuity because this approach increases the likelihood of preserving and valuing traditional family and community occupations; and social and family impact because it will foster positive engagement and collaboration between students and their family members, strengthening social bonds. “Overall, the introduction of CISL is an innovative step by the Education Department, aimed at bridging classroom learning with real-life skills, enhancing family participation in education, and creating meaningful social impact,” the chief minister stated.