Shillong, Jan 14 (Reporter) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma along with Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma on Tuesday handed over M-Tab (learning tablets) to students of West Garo Hills district at a programme held in district auditorium here. The M-Tab is an initiative of the Chief Minister’s Student Digital Learning Scheme, which aims to promote e-Education in the state. The tablet is loaded with comprehensive contents related to Higher Secondary level examination for all streams, including contents, mock question papers, past question and solved answer papers for various competitive examinations. It also has high quality audio-video, animation and 3D graphic contents. “The hand held device is not just a gadget. It is a tool to empower our youth. We want to ensure that our youth get access to learning and are better equipped to face different examinations,” the Chief Minister said. “This programme is to let you know that we care about you, to let you know that we trust you,” he asserted. Noting that technology is changing every aspect lives, Sangma said, “This government believes that in whatever way possible we must strengthen the use of technology to ensure that we can make the learning more impactful, the learning more meaningful, the learning more exciting and enjoyable.” He said that digital learning through audio-video and pictorial content, makes learning more easier and simpler. “We strongly feel that more and more use of technology at the grassroot level… smart classrooms, digital learning will aid our students… but remember, technology is only an enabler. It can only enable you to learn in an easier way,” he said. Around 1 lakh tablets have been distributed from 2021 to class XI students. In 2023-24 academic session, 30,480 students as per the Directorate of School Education and Literacy has received the benefit of the scheme. In West Garo Hills district, around 3000 M-Tabs will be distributed. In today’s distribution, over 400 plus students from 21different higher secondary schools received the tablets. Close to 5,700 teachers from different higher secondary schools in the state will receive the tablet, which will facilitate e-learning and assessments. The Vidya Samiksha Kendra, a learning management App designed by the department of Information and Technology, Government of Meghalaya, aimed to monitor learning outcomes, is also helping the teachers to monitor and assess the outcomes of the students...////...