The education sector in Meghalaya has plunged into a deep crisis after the Union Ministry of Education’s latest Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 ranked the state as the worst-performing in the country. Despite having more than 55,000 teachers on government payrolls and over 14,500 schools across the state, Meghalaya has been pushed into the lowest Grade 10 category with a score of just 417.9 out of 1,000 points. The PGI 2.0 assessment evaluated 36 states and union territories on six major parameters including learning outcomes, quality of education, access, infrastructure, equity, governance, and teacher training. Meghalaya remained at the bottom of the national rankings, even behind states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Bihar.
Although the state marginally improved from its previous score of 401.6 in 2022-23, the increase was not enough to lift it out of the lowest bracket. The report exposed alarming gaps in Meghalaya’s school system, particularly in rural regions where educational infrastructure and learning standards continue to deteriorate. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma recently acknowledged the severity of the crisis, citing official figures that reveal nearly 22,000 students drop out of school every year. The state currently runs 14,582 schools with a workforce of 55,160 teachers, yet the education system faces a shocking paradox — 206 schools reportedly have zero students, while another 2,269 schools are functioning with single-digit enrolment.
The PGI report further highlighted severe deficiencies in sanitation, digital connectivity, physical infrastructure, and trained teaching professionals. It also noted the absence of regular teacher training programmes and continuing weaknesses in foundational learning outcomes among students. The crisis has now triggered political tensions within the ruling coalition itself. While the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government continues to promote its “Education Revolution” campaign, its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, has openly expressed concern over the state’s humiliating national ranking.
State BJP general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna called for an urgent all-party meeting involving coalition partners and education stakeholders to address the worsening situation. He described the PGI findings as a clear warning sign demanding immediate reforms in the education sector.The BJP leader proposed launching a “Learning Recovery Mission” to bridge academic gaps and improve student outcomes. The party also advocated for the development of model schools equipped with proper sanitation, stable infrastructure, and better facilities, especially in remote rural areas. Additionally, the BJP demanded greater transparency through regular school audits and stronger community monitoring systems.
The Opposition Congress also launched a sharp attack on the government, accusing it of relying on publicity-driven policies rather than genuine reforms. Congress leader Manuel Badwar alleged that the state’s education system continues to collapse despite repeated announcements and intervention claims by the government.
Badwar criticised the hurried implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, claiming it was introduced merely to “please Delhi” without adequate groundwork or preparation. He argued that teachers are increasingly burdened with paperwork, surveys, and data collection instead of actual classroom teaching.
According to the Congress leader, many educators now spend more time filling out forms than interacting with students. He further accused the government of focusing on “showcase politics” while ignoring critical issues such as crumbling school buildings, poor student access in remote blocks, and widening educational inequality between urban and rural areas. The latest PGI findings have intensified pressure on Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and the MDA government to explain the growing disconnect between their claims of educational transformation and Meghalaya’s grim standing as India’s worst-performing state in school education.