Shillong, Aug 26: In a targeted effort to elevate the standard of education and address core learning gaps, the Government of Meghalaya today officially launched the “CM-IMPACT Read & Rise Meghalaya” programme. Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, inaugurated the initiative at the Assembly Annexe Hall in Shillong, marking a structured step toward universal reading readiness for school children across the State.
The “Read & Rise Meghalaya” initiative is a primary pillar of the broader educational reform mandate, CM-IMPACT. The programme is designed to ensure students develop grade-appropriate reading abilities, providing the necessary foundation for overall academic progress.
Notably this intervention aims to systematically address learning deficiencies that were impaired by classroom disruptions in recent years. Recognizing the challenge of uneven access to learning resources particularly in rural and remote districts, it focuses on bridging this divide.
In his keynote address, Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya said that education has always been a top priority for the government, and despite the complexities, the State’s education sector is moving in the right direction. He highlighted that Read & Rise is an ambitious program and one of the few initiatives of its kind in the entire country that Meghalaya is embarking on. Explaining the structure of the program, he noted it is designed with a simple and scientific approach to ensure reading readiness. Emphasizing the initiative’s role in shaping the quality of future citizens, he stated,
“The investment we are making in the children today is going to start showing results 20 years from now. This kind of an investment is something that’s going to have one of the highest returns that we can imagine, not for us, but for the society as a whole and for the individual student.” He further urged the department to ensure proper implementation and regular monitoring of the programme, stressing the need to adapt and improve the initiative wherever necessary.”
Shri Lahkmen Rymbui¸ Education Minister of Meghalaya, attended the launch as the Guest of Honour, reinforcing the department’s commitment to making comprehensive academic support accessible to every student.
During the event, the dignitaries also officially released the “Teacher Training Guide for Universal Reading Readiness Across Meghalaya”, published by GREENAMMO and sponsored by the Department of Education, Government of Meghalaya, to provide educators across the State with structured pedagogical support.
Outlining the execution roadmap and core objectives of the initiative, Vijay Kumar Mantri, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Education, Government of Meghalaya, highlighted that the State is going beyond National Education Policy mandates by objectifying learning outcomes at an early age. Building upon prior departmental interventions including SSLC student guidebooks, the Classroom Readiness Programme, and the Meghalaya Learning Enhancement Programme, Read & Rise sets an immediate goal to ensure every child above seven years of age in the state can read, within a three-month timeline.
Emphasizing the broader impact on the State’s learning standard, he stated,
“If every child can read, that is the foundation of entire quality of education, and we’ll be in a different league altogether if we are successful.”
By prioritizing foundational reading skills, the government aims to tackle the root causes of academic struggles. The rollout of the Read & Rise programme is expected to play a critical role in the State’s ongoing efforts to improve board examination pass percentages and build a more resilient, equitable educational ecosystem for the youth of Meghalaya.
Dignitaries included Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Lahkmen Rymbui¸ Hon’ble Education Minister of Meghalaya, Vijay Kumar Mantri, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Education, Government of Meghalaya, Richa Kulkarni, IAS, Director of School Education and Literacy (DSEL), Government of Meghalaya and officials from other allied departments.