Title: The Trends of Female Education in Garo Hills of Meghalaya: Some Insights

Abstract

This paper highlights and traces the initiation of female education in Garo Hills of Meghalaya ever since basic education was started in the region. Besides, this paper will also examine the contributions of the American Baptist Missionaries towards female education. Education of Girls is a task beset with difficulties in India, even where women have liberty and personal right. It was not easy to convince them of the advantages of education from the beginning. However, the girls have been urged to study in the village schools along with boys.

David Scott, the first Civil Commissioner and Agent to the Governor General, was the first who had proposed for setting up a School for Garo Girls. He wrote to the Government suggesting the clearing of the summit of Ranggira Hills and established a Station but it was unsuccessful. It was till the arrival of Dr. Miles Bronson, an American Baptist Missionary that a school was opened at Raja Simla (North Garo Hills) and he appointed Fokira W. Momin as teacher. There were 20 girls studying with boys and it has increased to 34 girls in 1872. Mariam Russell another missionary felt the great need for education of the Garo girls. She arrived at Tura and started a school and one of the students who joined that school was Dobaki Momin who went for further study. Two lady missionaries, Miss Stella Mason and Miss Ella Bond had arrived at Tura for improvement female education in Garo Hills

            Henceforth, the proportion of girls at school was considerably higher. There were gradual improvements in the attitudes of girls and parents towards the matter of female education