Meghalaya Proposes Education Reforms to Consolidate School Infrastructure

Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma met with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi to present a roadmap for statewide education reform. Sangma reported that the state manages approximately 14,600 schools for its population of 30 lakh, a structure that causes fragmented resources and administrative difficulties. To address these inefficiencies, the government has launched a rationalization process that has already consolidated 3,198 lower primary schools.

The reform plan focuses on improving academic delivery, governance, and infrastructure access, such as laboratories and digital tools. To support the teaching workforce, the state has introduced a unified pay structure for teachers and initiated training through the Meghalaya Teachers Training Academy. Educators are also participating in professional development programs, including self-paced modules and digital learning initiatives.

The government is moving forward with the National Education Policy, adopting strategies like play-based learning, bag-less days, and the three-language formula. This includes making the Khasi and Garo languages compulsory. To ensure these policies are implemented effectively, the state has launched the CM LEAD Fellowship, placing 12 fellows across districts to monitor progress. Sangma expressed confidence that these structural changes will lead to better educational outcomes for the state in the coming years.