Correspondent
SHILLONG, MAY 25: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday made a detailed presentation to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the State’s education challenges and roadmap to improve its Performance Grading Index.
Acknowledging that Meghalaya has ranked at the bottom for the past three years, Sangma highlighted structural concerns that have hindered outcomes. He noted the unusually high number of schools — nearly 14,600 for a population of 30 lakh — which has led to fragmented resource utilisation, multiple layers of grant-in-aid, and administrative complexities.
The Chief Minister informed that the government has initiated consolidation of schools to optimise infrastructure, improve student-teacher ratios, and enhance access to laboratories and digital facilities.
He also outlined reforms to streamline grant-in-aid mechanisms, reduce administrative burden, and focus on academic quality.
A landmark initiative includes the implementation of a unified pay structure for teachers, including structured pay for SSA staff, aimed at improving parity, morale, and accountability. Sangma also emphasised professional teacher training through DIKSHA-enabled modules and continuous development programmes.
Other interventions include adopting the NEP three-language formula, compulsory learning of Khasi and Garo, play-based learning, contextualised textbooks, and rationalisation of lower primary schools. Out of 14,582 schools, 3,198 have already been deleted for optimum resource use.
Sangma further presented the CM LEAD Fellowship, which places skilled professionals at the district level to strengthen planning, coordination, and monitoring of reforms. He also announced the establishment of the Meghalaya Teachers Training Academy to improve continuous professional development hours under Samagra Shiksha.
“With a clear roadmap and strong political will, Meghalaya is poised to overcome its challenges and significantly improve its PGI performance in the coming years. The Government reiterates its commitment to ensuring that every child in the State has access to quality education and opportunities for a better future,” Sangma said.