Shillong: Meghalaya, once celebrated as the educational hub of Northeast India, has found itself at the bottom of the Ministry of Education’s Performance Grading Index (PGI) for 2021-22. The dropout rates remain stubbornly high, prompting the state government to reevaluate and address the root causes of its educational challenges.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma acknowledged the complex challenges faced by the education sector, emphasizing that the issues are deeply entrenched and not merely superficial.
Highlighting the disparities, he noted that Meghalaya, based on the 2011 census, has a population of about 29 lakhs with a total of 14,582 schools (7,783 are government and 4,172 are private schools aided by the government) and 55,160 teachers.
“You can clearly see that Meghalaya stands out significantly. We have 14,582 schools for a population of just 29 lakh. How did this come to be? Over the last 53 years, the system kept expanding. While having a large number of schools and teachers isn’t inherently bad, it brings its own challenges. Compared to other states with similar populations, Meghalaya has far more schools,” explained Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
He further revealed, “Currently, there are 206 schools without a single student, yet salaries are still being paid to teachers assigned to these institutions. Additionally, 2,269 schools have single-digit enrollments.”
In government-aided schools, also known as deficit or ad-hoc schools, 18 institutions report zero student enrollments, while 1,141 have single-digit enrollments. Similarly, in SSA schools, 30 schools have no students, and 268 have single-digit enrollments. Among government schools, 11 have zero enrollments, and 132 have single-digit enrollments.
The government allocates Rs 917 crore annually for the salaries of teachers in government-aided private schools, surpassing the Rs 684 crore spent on government school teachers. Additionally, Rs 218.68 crore is spent annually on teachers’ salaries for higher education, with Rs 37.08 crore allocated to government colleges and Rs 179.6 crore to government-aided private colleges, of which Rs 121.66 crore goes to just 13 private colleges.
Performance-wise, 36 schools have reported zero pass percentages for three consecutive years. The numbers are similarly concerning in recent years, with 124 schools recording zero pass percentages in 2024, 146 in 2023, and 118 in 2022.
“We have been doing our best to address the systemic challenges in the education sector, which stem from decades of issues at all levels—primary, secondary, and beyond. We’re working to improve course materials, examination patterns, and overall quality. While it’s a complex problem without a single solution, we are committed to making tough decisions to improve the system. The numbers presented are factual and reflect the scale of the challenges we face. This isn’t about assigning blame or declaring what is right or wrong but about understanding the background and the resources involved. Addressing these issues requires careful analysis and collaboration to find sustainable ways to improve Meghalaya’s education sector,” said Sangma.
When asked about the timeline for categorizing government and private schools, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma acknowledged that combining all private institutions under one category would have a financial impact in the hundreds of crores.
“It’s a tough decision, and while it could be done immediately, the budget constraints make it challenging. We are exploring options, possibly taking a phased approach or restructuring the system, and are in discussions with various organizations,” he said.
Regarding the role of private institutions, Sangma emphasized their contribution, noting that ad-hoc and deficit schools play a critical role in providing education. “Some schools perform excellently, while others face challenges, but all are making an effort. It’s a legacy system we’ve inherited, and we must collaborate—government and private schools alike—to improve overall performance, focus on students, and advance the education sector,” he added.
Addressing concerns about institutions charging exorbitant fees, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma acknowledged ongoing debates on the issue. He noted that while private schools have autonomy over their fee structures, government aid for teacher salaries raises questions about government oversight. “We must balance the interests of schools, colleges, and students. It’s premature to comment on specific measures, but we are working toward a framework to address these concerns,” Sangma said.
On low enrollment in schools, Sangma emphasized the need to provide education even in remote areas, where some schools serve just one or two students. He suggested exploring ways to rationalize resources, such as merging schools while ensuring access to education for all.
Responding to a query on past political decisions creating multiple school categories, Sangma clarified that no new categories had been introduced during his tenure. He attributed challenges in the education sector to legacy issues, including untrained teachers and outdated systems. “While our student-teacher ratio is among the best, nearly 40% of teachers do not meet the latest Government of India training standards,” he explained.
He also highlighted efforts to align Meghalaya’s curriculum with NCERT norms, which are key to national rankings. “Earlier, deviations from NCERT standards led to a 30-40% drop in our education index scores. This prompted us to adopt NCERT books for universal subjects,” he added.
Sangma emphasized the importance of clear guidelines for granting ad hoc and deficit status to schools, an area previously lacking structure. “We’ve established norms to ensure transparency and fairness in granting financial support, something that should have been done long ago,” he concluded.
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