By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 4: The state government’s move to roll out guidebooks for the SSLC examination 2025 has not gone down well with the teachers who feel that the initiative may increase pass percentage but will not improve the quality of education in Meghalaya.
The Meghalaya Board of School Education recently notified that the Education Department has developed a ‘CM IMPACT Guidebook for SSLC Examination 2025’ each for English, mathematics, science, social science, and health and physical education subjects for Class X.
CM IMPACT expands to Chief Minister’s Initiative to Maximise Pass Achievement and Classroom Triumph aimed at increasing the success rate in Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination from the average of 53%.
Richmond Kharlukhi, a teacher, said he is not in favour of such guidebooks.
“Of course, MCQs should be there but 30 out of 80 is too much and there should be questions where students use their critical thinking skills,” he said.
He said developing guidebooks will not raise the pass percentage unless the students are taught how to think critically and be independent.
Kharlukhi said this initiative may increase the pass percentage but learning may not improve.
Another teacher who did not wish to be identified said most teachers have not liked the guidebook idea, especially because of the ‘CM’ in the title. “It is ridiculous to have come out with school guidebooks in the name of the Chief Minister,” she said.
Another teacher, Babu Kular Khongjirem said the idea has both merits and demerits.
“The weak students will gain while the brilliant students will lose. The guidebooks can help the weak students pass the SSLC examination but may affect the career of the bright and talented students,” he said, adding that easy passing of examinations will undermine the quality of education in the state in the long run.
The state will find it hard to produce scientists, engineers, doctors, and other professionals with guidebooks, he added.
“The government should scrap the guidebook idea,” he said.
The Voice of the People Party condemned the MDA government’s CM IMPACT initiative. It said the guidebooks to improve the Class X pass percentage would be an academic disaster. “The education sector needs meaningful reforms and not superficial steps,” the party said.
“The government is opting for shortcuts to inflate the pass percentage and produce certificate holders instead of students with problem-solving skills. Guidebooks undermine the expertise of teachers, implying that they need ‘cheat sheets’ to instruct students, thereby diminishing their professional autonomy,” the VPP said, pointing out that selecting contributors to these guidebooks remains opaque.
The party also said that branding the guidebooks with the ‘CM’ term is a blatant politicisation of education, turning students into tools for political gains rather than focusing on their development.
The VPP called for the immediate cessation of these guidebooks as they promote rote learning and undermine true educational growth. “Genuine reforms should support teachers and empower students to learn, not simply pass exams,” it added.