SHILLONG: In a landmark move for educational accountability and reform, the Meghalaya Government has launched the Meghalaya School Performance Grading Index (MSPGI) 2025–26.
This state-level grading framework evaluates 11,443 recognized schools using authenticated UDISE+ 2025–26 data, providing each institution with a score, grade, and statewide ranking.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, launching the initiative, emphasized that the grading exercise will be conducted annually to foster healthy competition and continuous improvement among schools.
He issued a strong warning to chronic underperformers, stating that institutions failing to improve despite targeted interventions could face severe regulatory action—including derecognition.
While acknowledging the constitutional right to establish educational institutions, Rymbui stressed that schools must meet mandatory quality standards and be accountable for their learning outcomes.
Developed by the Education Department, the MSPGI evaluates schools out of a maximum score of 1,000 across 43 indicators grouped into five key domains: Accessibility, Digital Education, Infrastructure Facilities, NEP Activities, and Quality Parameters.
Rymbui described the index as a groundbreaking step, noting that among Meghalaya’s over 14,000 educational setups, 11,443 fully recognized schools—ranging from state-run to CBSE and ICSE-affiliated—were assessed in the inaugural exercise based on self-certified UDISE+ submissions.
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This marks the first time the state government has directly ranked its schools from 0% to 100% on a standardized benchmark, enabling school management, teachers, and district administration to address systemic gaps.
Modelled on the Union Ministry of Education’s state-level Performance Grading Index (PGI), the MSPGI brings the mechanism down to the individual school level. It uses binary indicators for full compliance points and percentage-based metrics calculated proportionately.
For non-applicable metrics, weights are dynamically adjusted to ensure fairness across various school types.
Schools are categorized into 17 performance tiers based on cumulative scores. Each institution receives a School Report Card detailing its score, domain-wise performance, grade, and state rank.
Officials clarified that the MSPGI is designed as a diagnostic tool to inform policy, support, and targeted interventions, and is meant to complement—not replace—regular classroom inspections and student assessments.
In the inaugural rankings, Jyoti Sroat School Higher Secondary, East Khasi Hills, topped the state with 930 out of 1,000 points (State Rank 1, Uttam-1 grade). At the other end, Step by Step Lawwahskei L.P. School, West Khasi Hills, scored 26 out of 1,000 (Akanshi-10 grade, ranked 11,443rd).
The Education Department emphasized that MSPGI data integration strengthens Meghalaya’s position in the national PGI framework.
The state’s overall PGI score has risen significantly—from 401.62 in 2022–23 to 525.71 in 2025–26—moving Meghalaya from the lowest band (Akanshi-3) to Akanshi-1 for the first time.
Authorities are confident that the institutional accountability fostered by the MSPGI will sustain this upward trajectory and elevate educational standards across the state.
(4FrontMedia news)
