Shillong: Meghalaya’s education system is hitting a wall. Despite a score jump in the recent Performance Grading Index, the state is drowning in structural inefficiency. A fresh NITI Aayog report highlights 74 government schools with zero students where 152 teachers are still on the payroll. This waste of human capital persists while 49,807 students struggle in 1,414 single-teacher schools.
The numbers look better on paper. State governance and infrastructure metrics improved, moving Meghalaya out of the lowest PGI tier. However, actual learning outcomes remain stagnant. Students consistently trail national averages in core subjects like math and science. The report notes that the state has “virtually no teacher vacancies and maintains pupil-teacher ratios that are better than the national average across primary, upper primary, secondary and higher secondary levels.”
Reality bites back. One teacher often manages multiple grades alongside administrative chores in remote regions. This keeps classroom quality trapped at the bottom. The report suggests local authorities must consolidate schools and review the viability of empty facilities to fix the mess. Administrative progress means nothing if the students do not learn.
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