Shillong: Opposition leader Mukul Sangma took the government to task on Thursday for leaving Captain Williamson Sangma State University a hollow shell. He warned that a persistent lack of faculty and a subordinate mindset are driving local students out of Meghalaya. Kids who have never left home now travel to Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal just to find seats. The university sits empty.
Sangma slammed the June 27, 2026, recruitment notification for professors and associate professors that the state pulled on July 23. Officials cited pay structure disputes, but Sangma labeled the move a failure of political will. He noted that the state’s share of resources from the Central pool jumped from 32 percent to 42 percent after the 14th Finance Commission. Funds are available, but leadership is missing. "Meghalaya has historically been an education destination. We cannot allow our students to be seen as inferior or our degrees to be treated as second-class," Sangma said.
Governance remains a disaster. Sangma flagged concerns about the administration issuing then withdrawing notifications without Ministerial oversight. He questioned a separate move to hire teachers on a 30,000 rupee fixed-pay basis, demanding to know if the Cabinet even vetted the decision. He urged the government to honor compensation packages set by the university Board of Governors to prevent a brain drain.
The rot reaches deep into the system. Sangma demanded immediate repairs for school roofs damaged by recent hailstorms. He also cautioned against broad rationalization efforts that threaten rural school access. To fix the mess, he wants local colleges to affiliate with the state university. He plans to send a formal letter to the Education Minister to detail the crisis, pushing for a revival of Meghalaya’s status as a top-tier learning hub.
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