Although the state of Meghalaya does not occupy a mammoth portion of the Indian turf but it is developing into one of the most advanced and technically sound states.
The central University that coordinates the actions of all the smaller educational institutions of the state of Meghalaya is located in its functional capital of Shillong. To add that touch of modernization and sophistication to education in Meghalaya, quite a few number of colleges are being put up to provide a platform to the youth of the state. These colleges are equipped with the latest state of the art facilities to procure assistance to the students in all the various fields. They include 'Shillong Engineering and Management College' which is positioned at a venue known as Mawlai.
To keep up with the other neighboring states of India, the policy of free and compulsory education for all the children under the age group of 14 years has also been espoused by the state of Meghalaya in the sphere of education of Meghalaya. The 10+2 system of education that exists in all the other states of India has also penetrated into the state of Meghalaya. A list of the various educational institutions of Meghalaya are mentioned below as counted in 2005 :-
- Primary and Junior Basic- 5851
- Colleges for Arts, Science and Commerce- 54
- Basic and Non-basic Training Schools- 7
- Middle and Senior Basic- 1759
- Universities- 1
- Polytechnics-1
- High and Higher Secondary - 711.
- Teacher's Training Colleges - 2.
Meghalaya Colleges have made their mark in terms of providing quality education to the various aspiring doctors, engineers and businessmen who desire to make their mark. The colleges in Meghalaya procure all various sorts of courses that aids them to choose between different options. They can also seek the advise of elite professors in these colleges to choose the correct and most suitable stream for them.
The different colleges of Meghalaya are enlisted below:-
Engineering Colleges : The state of Meghalaya only houses a sole college dedicated to the engineering students known by the name of Shillong Engineering and Management College. The AICTE or All India Council of Technical Education has also approved all the courses offered by this college.
Management Institutes in Meghalaya: Shillong Engineering and Management College that is located at Mawlai.
Nursing Colleges at Meghalaya: Repsbun School of Nursing is the sole nursing school in the state of Meghalaya. It is located in East Khasi Hills.
Polytechnic Institutes : There three polytechnic institutes including Jowai Polytechnic, Shillong Polytechnic and Tura Polytechnic. All these colleges at Meghalaya are AICTE approved.
Law Colleges : Department of Law, Northeastern Hill University, Khad-Ar-Doloi Law College, Tura College and Shillong Law College
Biotechnology Colleges : St. Anthony's College and Department of Biotechnology
Hotel Management : Institute of Hotel Management in Shillong is the only college that offers a course in Hotel Management.
Computer Institutes : St. Edmund's College and St. Anthony's College at Shillong.
Mass Communications : Department of Mass Communications in St. Anthony's College in the venue of Shillong provide courses in Mass Communication.
Mass Communication
Mass communication in Meghalaya comprises of newspapers, television channels, radio and Internet. Though a small state, Meghalaya has a moderately well-developed network of communication. Meghalaya mass communication is controlled by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology of Meghalaya.
The channels of mass communication in Meghalaya are used as media to distribute regional, national and foreign news, for entertainment purpose and also for providing information on various subjects. Print and electronic media are the two aspects of Meghalaya mass communication. The newspapers in Meghalaya include The Shillong Times, The Meghalaya Guardian, and U Mawphor and so on. Electronic media comprises Doordarshan Kendra of Shillong, All India Radio of Shillong, U Peitngor Cable news, Media Plus and so on.
Public Service Commission
The Meghalaya Public Service Commission made its robust presence felt on 4th of September, 1972. In fact, it had prior been postulated that each Indian State should be dowered with at least a single Public Service Commission. Thus, with reference to the Atr.315 of the Constitution of India, the Public Service Commission of Meghalaya was formulated.
The Public Service Commission in Meghalaya was established only a year after the state of Meghalaya was granted the recognition of being a completely separate state. Actually, the Assam Service Commission had been fragmented to give rise to the Public Service Commission at Meghalaya.
The list of the powerful post holders of the maiden Public Service Commission are given below:-
- Shri O. Thangkhiew was an eminent member.
- Shri G.C.Momin served as the chairman
1st floor, House Shoe Building, Lower Lachumeire, Shillong - 793001.
The Public Service Commission of Meghalaya conducts the following departmental examinations:-
- Meghalaya Civil Services
- Meghalaya Forest Services
- Meghalaya Police Services
- Cooperative Departmental
Universities
The two major Meghalaya universities are the North Eastern Hill University and the Indira Gandhi National Open University. The North Eastern Hill University is one of the leading universities in Meghalaya established on 19th July, 1973. The Shillong regional center of Indira Gandhi National Open University is as old as 1998. Currently, the Shillong regional center manages and controls all the curricular activities across entire Meghalaya. Some information about these two major universities at Meghalaya is given below:
The North Eastern Hill University is counted among the most renowned universities of Meghalaya, as its main campus is located in the capital city of Shillong. An additional campus was set up at Tura in February 1996.
The university offers courses in almost all the major branches of education. The university is divided into seven schools and all the departments of the university come under these schools. There are as many as fifty-three undergraduate colleges that are affiliated to this renowned university. There are 8 colleges under the university that provide professional courses.
Meghalaya Vocational Education is extremely popular because it opens up plenty of placement opportunities for its students. The rapid growth of industrialization in Meghalaya has increased the demand for skilled and semi-skilled labors to a great degree, consequently making Meghalaya Vocational Education all the more lucrative. Meghalaya vocational education is greatly encouraged by the government. The state directorate for employment and craftsman training is committed towards the optimization of the human resources of the state through the distance education facilities offered by the various institutions of the state.
The Vocational Education Facilities in the Polytechnic Colleges of Meghalaya
The polytechnic colleges take a major role in imparting Meghalaya Vocational Education, apart from the various degree courses. The students of these colleges are equipped in various technical capacities, which help them to play an important part in the many industries of the state, as well as to explore possibilities of self-employment. The polytechnic colleges which offer vocational education at Meghalaya are:
- Jowai Polytechnic in the Jaintia Hills
- Shillong Polytechnic in Shillong
- Tura Polytechnic in the Garo Hills
