Meghalaya introduces community-integrated skill learning in schools

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, announced on Friday that the State Cabinet has given its nod for the introduction of Community Integrated Skill Learning (CISL) as a formal curricular component for students from Classes VI to X. This is a landmark educational reform in the state's school education system to make learning more experiential and socially rooted.

Speaking further, the Chief Minister pointed out that currently, Health and Physical Education is given as the sixth subject for Classes VI to X, but its character remains mostly limited to textbooks and theoretical knowledge about health and physical activities.

To make the subject more meaningful, practical and relevant to students’ lives, the Cabinet has decided to integrate CISL into the existing framework.

The skills may range across traditional occupations, local practices and community-based expertise, allowing students to learn directly from their immediate social environment.

Explaining the concept, CM Sangma said that if a student’s family is engaged in farming, the student may opt to learn agricultural skills directly from parents.

Similarly, skills practiced by other family members or available within the local community can be chosen.

Students will be required not only to observe but to actively learn, participate and demonstrate the selected skill as part of the assessment process.

The Chief Minister said the initiative carries multiple long-term benefits.From a skill development point of view, CISL will enable students to get hold of hands, on and work, oriented skills that might be of help in their future personal or professional lives.

Moreover, students won't be required to do the same work as their parents, but the approach will most likely lead to the continuation, respect and valuing of traditional family and community based ways of living.

CM Sangma further pointed out the social aspect of the programme emphasizing that as CISL is going to be a major component of academic assessment, it will motivate students to interact and collaborate more with their families.

He said that this will make the family relationship stronger and generate a feeling of shared responsibility in the learning process.

The Chief Minister, referring to CISL as an innovative step by the Education Department, stated that the initiative intends to bring the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills down, to raise the community's participation in education, and to create a great social impact by linking education to real life experiences.