Shillong, July 3 (IANS) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday said the state’s Performance Grading Index (PGI) 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

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