The Meghalaya Education Department is set to dispatch fact-finding teams to schools across the state to identify challenges contributing to poor performance, low enrollment, and teacher absenteeism.
Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma highlighted several alarming issues, including schools with zero enrollment, absentee or proxy teachers, and cases where the number of teachers exceeds the number of students.
“There are schools where teachers never show up, and in some cases, there are more teachers than students,” Sangma stated. “We have schools with four teachers but only two students, and many without proper buildings. We need to get to the root of these problems.”
The Minister emphasized that the fact-finding teams will visit every school to assess the situation firsthand. “We will send officials to every nook and corner of the state to gather a clear understanding of the challenges each school faces,” he added.
The Minister also expressed concern over Meghalaya’s high dropout rates and the state’s low ranking in the Performance Grading Index (PGI). He attributed these issues to teacher performance, stating, “Our teachers need to take responsibility for the quality of education. The state has one of the highest dropout rates in the country, which is directly tied to the performance of our educators.”
Sangma acknowledged that the education system, especially at the lower primary level, is not up to the mark. He urged teachers to focus on their duties and provide quality education to students. “We’re working on modalities to absorb SSA, Adhoc, and deficit teachers into the system. It’s a collective responsibility,” he said.
The fact-finding mission is also linked to the government’s efforts to address the issues with SSA schools.
Sangma clarified that although SSA is a Government of India program, financial responsibilities are increasingly being shifted to the state. “Previously, it was a 90:10 funding model, but it’s now 70:30, and in the future, it might be 50:50. The state government is preparing to handle these challenges.”
Regarding complaints about proxy teachers, Sangma assured that the government is taking action. “If we receive formal complaints from parents or civil society, we will address them immediately,” he said. He also revealed that some teachers had already been reassigned due to zero enrollments, with the possibility of returning if enrollment improves.
The first phase of the survey has been completed, and another round will follow to ensure accurate data. Sangma noted that the corrected figures on dropout rates and enrollments would soon be available. “We are working hard to ensure our education system improves, and this fact-finding initiative is a crucial step in the right direction,” he concluded.