By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 24: While the MDA government touts its “Education Revolution,” its own ally, the BJP, has joined the Opposition in sounding the alarm over Meghalaya’s rock-bottom national ranking, exposing a deepening crisis where “paperwork” is reportedly replacing “teaching” in the state’s crumbling classrooms.
The latest Performance Grading Index (PGI) released by the Union Ministry of Education has placed Meghalaya in the 401-460 score bracket—the lowest tier in the country. The report card identifies systemic failures across learning outcomes, infrastructure, governance, and teacher training.
State BJP general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna on Sunday called for an urgent all-party meeting involving coalition partners and stakeholders. The move is seen as a significant “vote of no confidence” in the Education Department’s current trajectory.
Pohshna stated the ranking is a clear signal to overhaul the system. The BJP is pushing for a “Learning Recovery Mission” to address academic gaps and the development of “model schools” that provide basic necessities like sanitation and stable infrastructure, particularly in remote regions.
The party also called for greater transparency in school administration through regular audits and community monitoring, rather than relying on current governance models.
Congress slams ‘policy by press release’
Meanwhile, the Congress launched a scathing attack on the government, alleging that a lack of genuine reform is costing the state “another generation.”
Congress leader Manuel Badwar said the state continues to slide despite years of government “interventions” and PR-heavy announcements. He accused the administration of rushing the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to “please Delhi” without conducting the necessary groundwork. “Policy by press releases will not help our children,” Badwar said. He highlighted a growing burden on educators, noting that teachers are increasingly forced to focus on data collection and excessive paperwork instead of classroom engagement. “Teachers spend more time filling forms than teaching,” he remarked.
Badwar further alleged that the government is focused on “showcase and fluff” while ignoring fundamental issues like collapsing school buildings and poor student access in rural blocks.
The PGI findings have intensified the pressure on Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to address the disparity between the government’s claims of a “transformation” and the reality of Meghalaya’s standing as one of the worst-performing states for education in India.
