Arunachal CM Pema Khandu felicitates 30 meritorious students, vows to revive government schools

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, along with Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, felicitated 30 state-level meritorious students from Classes III to XII for their academic performance in the 2024–25 session.

The students, selected from both government and private schools across the state, were honoured with cash awards and certificates under the Golden Jubilee Meritorious Students Award (GJMSA), an initiative aimed at recognising academic excellence and encouraging students to pursue higher achievements.

The award programme was conceived by the state government in 2022 through the Directorate of Elementary Education as part of the celebrations marking 50 years of Arunachal Pradesh's statehood. The state was formally constituted as Arunachal Pradesh in 1972, after having earlier been known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA).

Speaking at the felicitation programme, Chief Minister Khandu said the government had distributed more than Rs 3 crore under various initiatives aimed at supporting talented and meritorious students across the state.

Among the 30 students felicitated this year, a significant number were girls. The awardees received cash prizes, with some awards going up to Rs 1 lakh, besides certificates of recognition.

Khandu said the initiative was intended not merely to reward academic performance but also to motivate students across Arunachal Pradesh to work hard and excel in their respective fields.

The chief minister also highlighted his government's efforts to revive and strengthen government schools in the state.

He said the state was implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and had constituted a task force to oversee its implementation. The government has set 2029 as a target year for achieving key objectives under its education reform initiatives, he said.

Khandu stressed that improving the quality of education, strengthening government schools and creating opportunities for talented students would remain among the government's priorities.

The GJMSA, he said, would continue to serve as an incentive for students from different parts of the state, particularly those who demonstrate excellence despite limited resources and challenging geographical conditions.

The felicitation programme brought together students, parents, teachers and education officials, with the government emphasising the need to create a stronger culture of academic excellence across Arunachal Pradesh.