The state cabinet today cleared a set of important decisions, including a major reform in school education with the introduction of Community-Integrated Skill Learning (CISL) for students from Classes 6 to 10 and a new provision allowing private candidates to appear for the SSLC examination.
The decisions were taken during a cabinet meeting held at Mawkasiang and are aimed at strengthening experiential learning, expanding access to education and recognising outstanding contributions in arts, social service and sports.
Under the CISL framework, Health and Physical Education, which has so far been taught mainly through textbooks, will be transformed into a skill-based and experiential subject. Students will be encouraged to identify practical skills linked to their interests and to family or community occupations such as agriculture, crafts and other local livelihoods. These skills will be learned, practised and assessed as part of their academic evaluation, officials said.
The cabinet also approved a provision allowing private candidates to register for and appear in the SSLC examination conducted by the Meghalaya Board of School Education. This move is expected to benefit students who were unable to clear Class 10 earlier or had to discontinue their studies after Class 8, giving them an opportunity to re-enter the formal education system.
In addition, the Cabinet approved the Meghalaya Day Awardees for 2026. Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih was selected for the U Tirot Sing Award for Arts and Literature, Benoy Joseph for the Pa Togan Sangma Award for Social Services and FIFA assistant referee Riiohlang Dhar for the U Kiang Nangbah Award for Sports and Games.
Other decisions included amendments to the Meghalaya Border Areas Development Service Rules, 2025, extension of service for senior officials in key departments, approval of the Republic Day speech, and nomination of VIPs to take the salute during the Republic Day celebrations in 2026.
