BLURB
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma said teacher quality is central to education, highlighting school upgrades, improved learning outcomes and stronger student performance across the state.
Shillong
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday said that the quality of teachers is the most important factor in transforming the education system, stressing that infrastructure and government schemes can succeed only with committed educators.
Addressing the state-level Teachers’ Day celebration at Tura, Sangma recognised teachers working in remote and single-teacher schools and said their contributions often go unnoticed.
“No education system can rise above the quality of its teachers, however much money we spend on buildings, however many schemes we launch,” Sangma said.
Sangma recalled the government’s efforts since 2018 to improve school infrastructure. An initial assessment had estimated a requirement of Rs 3,000 crore. He said the government began the process gradually through Mission Education.
According to the Chief Minister, infrastructure in more than 2,000 government elementary schools has been upgraded, while the number of Higher Secondary Schools increased from 427 to 545.
He said education received the largest share of his Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund, with around Rs 150-180 crore of the Rs 300-400 crore spent over the last eight financial years going to the sector.
Sangma also highlighted improvements in learning outcomes. Meghalaya moved from Akanshi-3 to Akanshi-1 in the Performance Grading Index in one year, with its score rising from 448 to 525.7 points.
The state recorded a 97.2 per cent SSLC pass percentage and an 86.6 per cent HSSLC pass percentage this year. The Class X-to-XI transition rate also increased to 82.1 per cent.
The Meghalaya School Performance Grading Index covers all 11,443 schools across 12 districts.
Urging teachers to remain focused on their responsibilities, Sangma said, “The purpose of every teacher is to shape the lives of youth, and while shaping youth, you shape the future of the country.”
He also urged officials and teachers to focus on solutions and ensure that every decision is guided by its impact on students.