Shillong, June 3: Meghalaya is stepping up efforts to improve learning outcomes and climb the national Performance Grading Index (PGI), a key benchmark for school education in India, with the state government rolling out a series of reforms aimed at strengthening its education system.

During a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday, officials outlined a range of initiatives spanning school infrastructure development, foundational learning programmes, vocational education, digital governance and teacher support.

The review comes as the state seeks to address longstanding gaps in its education sector while building on one of its greatest strengths i.e access to schooling. With 14,582 schools serving a population of around 30 lakh, Meghalaya has one of the most extensive school networks in the Northeast, ensuring that even remote communities have access to education.

However, officials acknowledged that access alone is no longer enough.

Meghalaya’s performance in the national PGI continues to be influenced by learning outcomes, infrastructure, administrative capacity and data reporting systems. Government officials argued that while the rankings highlight areas needing improvement, they do not fully capture the potential of students in the state.

“The PGI score indicates structural, administrative and data reporting problems; not the merit or potential of our children, which is next to none,” one official said at the meeting.

Learning outcomes continue to be at the centre of the government’s strategy. Under the PGI framework, this category carries the highest weightage, with the state focusing on interventions aimed at strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy, improving classroom teaching and supporting students at the grassroots level.

Infrastructure upgrades are also underway across Meghalaya. Science laboratories, ICT facilities, smart classrooms, libraries, drinking water facilities, kitchen gardens, rainwater harvesting systems and solar-powered infrastructure are being introduced in schools. Welfare measures, including improvements to the Mid-Day Meal programme and the installation of sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators in girls’ schools, are also being expanded.

A key reform highlighted during the review was the school rationalisation programme. Officials said that 3,198 of Meghalaya’s 14,582 schools have already been merged or consolidated in a bid to improve teacher deployment, optimise resources and strengthen service delivery.

Skill-based learning is also receiving renewed focus through the Community Skill Integrated Curriculum, which introduces vocational and practical learning from the primary level onwards. The government believes such interventions will better prepare students for future opportunities while strengthening overall educational outcomes.

The Chief Minister directed district administrations to work closely with the Education Department and accelerate implementation in mission mode to bridge existing gaps.

“We have made sure that every child is given access to school; our next aim is to make sure that all our schools teach a child best in its class,” Sangma said.

He stressed the need for a strategic, data-driven approach backed by strong monitoring and reporting mechanisms so that progress achieved on the ground is accurately reflected in future assessments.

For Meghalaya, the challenge is no longer simply getting children into classrooms. The focus is now firmly on ensuring that every child receives quality education, meaningful learning opportunities and the skills needed to succeed in the future.

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