The Meghalaya government has released a discussion paper proposing the consolidation of multiple Grant-in-Aid (GIA) schemes for educational institutions in the state.
The move aims to streamline funding, improve governance and enhance educational outcomes.
According to the background of this discussion paper, Meghalaya ranks lowest among all states and Union territories in the Performance Grading Index (PGI), with a score of 420.6 out of 1000.
The state faces challenges such as a large number of under-enrolled schools, fragmented administrative structures and a complex funding system. The key features of the proposal include consolidation of GIA schemes into a single, unified framework called the Meghalaya Education Grant (MEG).
Under the proposal there will be no reduction in existing funding – schools and colleges will receive at least the same amount they currently receive. Future funding increases will be based on objective criteria, such as school performance, infrastructure needs and enrollment figures. Funds will also be released quarterly directly to the school management committee (SMC) or governing body.
SMCs and governing bodies will no longer require prior departmental approval for administrative decisions.
The objectives of the consolidation are to improve the quality and governance of education in Meghalaya, enhance transparency and accountability in the use of public funds and promote a more outcome-oriented approach to education delivery.
The Department of Education has invited feedback and suggestions from stakeholders, including educators, teachers, SMCs, governing bodies, parents and students. The deadline for submission is May 31, 2025.
No one can deny that the education system in Meghalaya is facing a crisis. According to a report that the Chief Minister presented in January, every year for the last three years there have been more than a hundred schools in Meghalaya that have not had a single student pass their exams, with 124 in 2024, 146 in 2023 and 118 in 2022. There are also 36 schools that have not seen a single student pass in all three years.
Meghalaya has many times the number of schools that it apparently needs. Although it has a smaller population than Tripura (based on the 2011 census), Meghalaya has nearly three times more schools, 14,582 compared to 4,929. Manipur, with a similar population to Meghalaya, has only 4,617 schools. Part of this is because, in many cases, one institution is divided into separate schools for primary, secondary and higher secondary sections in order to take advantage of the existing funding system.
Additionally, Meghalaya has an unusually high number of aided schools, whereas other states have relatively few. Nationally, aided schools account for less than 5 percent of the total number of schools but in Meghalaya this proportion is 29 per cent.
Across the state and across the various categories of schools, there are 206 that have no students whatsoever and another 2,269 with fewer than 10 students each. Among deficit and ad hoc schools alone, there are 18 with no enrolment and 1,141 with single digit enrolment. Among SSA schools there are 30 with zero students and 268 with fewer than 10. And in government schools there are 11 with zero students and 143 with fewer than 10.
