A major milestone in improving rural school infrastructure in Meghalaya was marked today with the inauguration of newly renovated classrooms at Lyngiong Government Lower Primary School and Mawngap Government Lower Primary School. The event marks the successful culmination of a collaboration between Smart Village Movement (SVM) and One School at a Time (OSAAT), aimed to transform rural educational learning environments in government schools.
The initiative, launched in October 2023, focused on addressing critical infrastructure challenges in rural schools, such as dilapidated buildings, overcrowded classrooms, and insufficient facilities. With a shared goal of enhancing the quality of education, the partnership has led to the creation of modern, safe, and conducive learning environments for students at both schools, benefiting a total of 478 children across both institutions.
SVM, in collaboration with OSAAT, has provided essential upgrades to the classrooms, including the construction of new classrooms, improved sanitation and incorporation of Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) through educational wall paintings featuring alphabets, numbers, science concepts, and cultural themes. The project also included the provision of new furniture to ensure students have an optimal learning space. These improvements are not only aimed at fostering academic excellence but also nurturing creativity, curiosity, and a sense of security among the children.
The Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Shri D.P. Wahlang, graced both ceremonies and formally inaugurated the renovated facilities, highlighting the importance of educational infrastructure in rural development. He encouraged the students, saying, “You now have great classrooms, so the focus must shift to improving the quality of education. The teachers and School Management Committees have a big role to play in this. They must do everything they can at their level and also engage with the government to address any challenges or gaps they face. Parents should also encourage their children to go to school, no child should stay back home.”
The inauguration program was attended by a wide range of distinguished guests, including Shri. Ramkumar, Executive Director of MBDA and Nodal Officer for the Smart Village Movement project, Dr. Sampath Kumar, CEO of the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), Shri. Srinivas Prasad, OSAAT Volunteer, Shri. J.A. Marwein, Sub Divisional School Education Officer, Education Department, Shri. Wallambok Mawlong, Cluster Resource Coordinator, SSA, and Shri. Samborlang Skhemlon, Block Mission Coordinator, SSA. Representatives from both SVM and OSAAT also graced the occasion. The event was attended by community members, parents of the students, and local school management committee members, who expressed their support and gratitude for the improvements in the school infrastructure.
Shri. Ramkumar, Executive Director of MBDA and Nodal Officer for the Smart Village Movement, emphasized the need for innovative and demand-centric solutions for rural schools and the positive impact such projects have on student outcomes.
Dr. Sampath Kumar, CEO of the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), also acknowledged the importance of improving rural infrastructure as part of a broader vision for the state’s socio-economic development.
The event included speeches from Shri. Srinivas Prasad, OSAAT Volunteer, and representatives from both OSAAT and SVM. The day’s celebrations were rounded off with a vote of thanks and a light refreshment session.
The Smart Village Movement initiative was launched in Meghalaya in 2020 in collaboration with Berkeley Haas. Since its inception, SVM has successfully implemented several projects focused on healthcare, education, agriculture, and infrastructure development, with many scaling across the state through technology and business innovation focused in emerging markets.
