Shillong, Jun 25: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today said several issues continue to affect education in the state, including poor digital access, dependence on guidebooks and challenges in improving learning outcomes.
Speaking at a press conference, MPCC secretary Manuel Badwar said the government’s efforts to improve the state’s dismal Performance Grading Index (PGI) rank would not bring the desired results unless more attention is given to teaching and learning in schools.
He questioned the use of the Chief Minister’s guidebooks as a tool to improve education, saying students should be encouraged to understand subjects instead of relying mainly on memorisation. Badwar also sought an explanation for the sharp rise in pass percentages in state examinations, which he said increased from around 56-57 percent to nearly 90 percent after the guidebooks were issued.
The Congress leader also highlighted the lack of digital facilities in schools. He claimed that only about 19.7 percent of schools in Meghalaya have computers, making it difficult for many students to keep up as entrance tests and admission processes move online.
According to the party, students from rural areas often face problems while filling out online forms because of poor internet connectivity and technical issues. It said some students have missed admission opportunities due to these challenges. The party also referred to a student who reportedly qualified for an IIT but could not take admission because of financial difficulties.
Congress further alleged that many teachers are spending a significant amount of time on administrative duties instead of classroom teaching. It said reducing non-teaching work would allow teachers to focus more on students and improve learning.
The party maintained that while education is a shared responsibility between the Centre and the state, the Meghalaya government must take stronger steps to address local challenges. It said improving school infrastructure, expanding access to technology and strengthening classroom teaching should be among the government’s priorities.
