Shillong, July 3: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday stressed the urgent need to strengthen reporting mechanisms in schools, saying that gaps in data submission have prevented the state from achieving a higher ranking in the Performance Grading Index (PGI) despite significant improvements in the education sector.
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| Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma addresses the gathering during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new building of S.A. Government Higher Secondary School at Sohkha. (Image: X/SangmaConrad) |
The Chief Minister was speaking during the foundation stone laying ceremony of Sohkha Government Higher Secondary School and a felicitation programme for meritorious students. The event was attended by Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma and Sports Minister Shakliar Warjri.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma said Meghalaya's current PGI ranking does not accurately reflect the progress made in education over the past several years. He pointed out that the state has lost nearly 100 marks in PGI assessments due to inadequate reporting rather than shortcomings in actual performance.
According to the Chief Minister, several achievements and activities carried out by schools have not been properly documented or reported, resulting in unnecessary loss of marks. He cited examples such as the availability of reading spaces in schools and the organisation of one-day cyber safety awareness programmes, noting that failure to report such initiatives had adversely affected the state's overall score.
Calling it a "low-hanging opportunity," Sangma urged school heads, teachers, and officials of the Education Department to ensure timely and accurate reporting of all educational activities.
"We have done the work, but if we don't report it properly, it does not get reflected in the rankings," he said, adding that improving documentation alone could significantly enhance Meghalaya's PGI performance.
Highlighting the government's achievements in education, the Chief Minister said more than 2,000 schools have been upgraded across the state during the past eight years. He also noted that the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) pass percentage has crossed 95 per cent, reflecting steady improvements in learning outcomes.
Sangma said the state has made considerable progress over the past eight years and asked the public to reflect on whether Meghalaya is better today than it was before.
"We are better off than what we were before. We are moving in the right direction and creating greater opportunities for our youth," he said.
At the same time, the Chief Minister acknowledged that challenges remain and admitted that the government is not infallible.
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"We are not perfect. We do make mistakes, but we learn from them. We listen to the concerns of our people, and if we realise that certain decisions are not in the right direction, we have the will to correct them," he said.
He emphasised that the government remains committed to working closely with citizens, understanding their concerns, and ensuring that development benefits everyone.
Sangma reiterated that improving reporting standards in schools, coupled with continued investment in educational infrastructure and teacher capacity, would further strengthen Meghalaya's education system and improve its national standing in future PGI assessments.
