Shillong, September 29: A total of 9,767 former school dropouts from across Meghalaya have registered as Private SSLC candidates under the state’s Second Chance Learning Programme, giving them an opportunity to return to education and complete Class X.
The programme is a joint initiative of the Government of Meghalaya, Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) and Meghalaya Programme for Adolescent Wellbeing, Empowerment and Resilience (MPOWER). It provides a flexible pathway for learners to prepare for and appear in the SSLC examination scheduled for December 2026.
MBOSE Shillong Regional Office Director Macdonald Marabaniang said the response to the Private SSLC pathway shows that many learners who had left school still want an opportunity to complete their education. He said the programme aims to provide them with an accessible and recognised route to the SSLC examination.
Registrations have been received from all 12 districts and include adolescents, young adults and older learners. There is no upper age limit. The oldest registered candidate is 59-year-old Sylvester Shadap of Thadrang Umngem village in Bhoirymbong Block, Ri Bhoi district.
Shadap, who dropped out of school in 1989, is returning to the classroom after nearly four decades. He said his decision to sit for the SSLC examination was motivated by a desire to set an example for his family, young people and others who had discontinued their education.
He acknowledged that adapting to changes in the curriculum after a 37-year gap has been challenging, but said he remains determined to work hard for the examination.
The programme has 171 notified learning and assessment centres across Meghalaya. Ri Bhoi has 690 registered candidates, while the Mawlasnai centre alone has 185 learners.
The Private SSLC pathway is intended for those who may have left school due to financial difficulties, family responsibilities, migration, early marriage, geographical barriers or other circumstances. It enables learners to prepare for the examination without having to return to a conventional full-time school.
MBOSE provides the academic and examination framework, while MPOWER supports community mobilisation, learner orientation, mentoring, registration and tracking. Free self-study materials have also been developed and distributed in Khasi, Garo, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English and Health.
The programme also seeks to connect successful learners with higher secondary education, vocational courses, skills training and livelihood opportunities.
