Meghalaya losing PGI marks due to poor reporting, not poor performance: CM Sangma
Shillong, July 3
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday said the state's Performance Grading Index ranking in the education sector does not accurately reflect the progress made over the years, asserting that the government has been losing valuable marks due to gaps in reporting by schools rather than shortcomings in performance.
Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of the Sohkha Government Higher Secondary School and attending a felicitation programme for meritorious students at Sohkha in West Jaintia Hills district, the Chief Minister called for strengthening reporting mechanisms across educational institutions to ensure that the state's achievements are properly captured.
"Sadly, the ranking reflected in the PGI is not a fair representation of Meghalaya's education system. The issue is not always performance, but how we report it," Sangma said.
He explained that schools have been missing out on marks for basic indicators despite having the required facilities and activities in place.
According to him, simple measures such as reporting the availability of reading spaces or organising and documenting cyber safety awareness programmes could have significantly improved Meghalaya's score.
"In many cases, small efforts like conducting a one-day awareness programme or correctly reporting available facilities could have earned us crucial points. We have lost nearly 100 marks due to gaps in communication and reporting," he said.
Describing it as a "low-hanging opportunity," the Chief Minister urged school heads and officials of the Education Department to ensure accurate and timely submission of data.
Sangma said the government has made substantial investments in the education sector over the past eight years by upgrading more than 2,000 schools, improving infrastructure and raising the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) pass percentage to over 95 per cent in recent years.
"Transformation is happening. From infrastructure to results, we are moving in the right direction. Now we must ensure that our progress is properly captured and reflected," he said, assuring continued support for improving school infrastructure, connectivity and educational opportunities across Meghalaya.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui and Sports Minister Wailadmiki Shylla were present on the occasion. The programme also marked the inauguration of a Children and Adolescent Library and digital infrastructure at Sohkha Mission Village as part of the government's efforts to strengthen holistic educational development across the state.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a former teacher in a government school in Assam, I know exactly what CM Sangma is talking about. Our school had a beautiful library and computer lab, but nobody taught us how to fill those PGI forms properly. The Education Department sends circulars in English that half the teachers don't understand properly. I hope Meghalaya trains its teachers better on documentation - it's time we focus on systems, not just infrastructure. 🎯
Simple hai yaar - if reporting is the issue, then give schools a checklist and follow up. But I'd also like to see data on how many of those "upgraded 2,000 schools" actually have running water and functional toilets. Hindi belt mein toh yeh sab report karne ke baad bhi reality alag hoti hai. Hope Meghalaya's progress is real and not just on paper. Bohut badhiya if true, but thoda skepticism allowed hai.
I'm from Shillong and studied in a government school, so this hits close to home. CM is right that infrastructure has improved - our school actually got a proper science lab and smart boards. But the reporting culture is terrible. Teachers are overburdened with administrative work already, so filling PGI forms becomes an afterthought. The solution isn't just asking them to report better; give them dedicated data entry staff. Otherwise yeh "low-hanging opportunity" remains unplucked year after year. 😕
Interesting how every state CM blames "reporting" for low rankings. But honestly, if Meghalaya's SSLC pass percentage has really crossed 95%, that's impressive for a state with so many remote villages. But then why hide the real issue? The PGI also measures learning outcomes, teacher availability, and student-teacher ratios - not just infrastructure. CM should be transparent about where Meghalaya actually lags. Baaki, digital library and children's library initiative sounds promising
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