Shillong, Sept 23: Meghalaya bet big on its classrooms today. And Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma led from the front with a clear message – spending on our youth is not expenditure, it is investment that will pay back.
In a power-packed programme on Wednesday, he laid the foundation for MBOSE Shillong Regional Office’s first permanent home after 45 years of running from a temporary address, virtually opened 82 brand new school buildings under Mission Education, and released a whopping Rs 49.78 crore under Samagra Shiksha for this academic year.
For four and a half decades, the Shillong Regional Office which handles seven Khasi-Jaintia districts, 1,329 secondary schools, 397 higher secondary schools and over 175 SSLC and HSSLC exam centres, had no address of its own. That wait ends now. The new building will give MBOSE secure exam storage, evaluation halls and space to train teachers and examiners. It’s not about money spent or buildings built, Conrad said, outcomes must be the real report card, while East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh said buildings are not just structures, they are strength for institutions.
The second big strike was 82 new schools going live in one go under Mission Education, a mission that has already pumped Rs 457.41 crore into 2,230 schools across the state to fix classrooms and give children dignity to learn. On top of that came tech with heart – the CM Impact Guidebook powered by AI, a smart platform for SSLC students with chapter-wise lessons, instant explanations and mock tests, with offline mode in the works for schools with no internet. The push is showing. Meghalaya’s Performance Grading Index has leapt from 448 in 2024 to 525.71 in 2026, a jump of 77.71 points, now shoulder to shoulder with 15 other states, with eyes set on 580 and then 700 in two years.
And then the direct hit where it matters most – Rs 49.78 crore under Samagra Shiksha reaching 8,21,269 students, with composite grants for 7,541 schools, free textbooks for 5,19,816 students, uniforms for 2,98,013 students and special support for Children with Special Needs. Commissioner and Secretary Education Vijay Kumar Mantri called it a historic milestone and said MBOSE has proved it can change with time, staying flexible, sensitive and responsive to students.
Three moves, one motive – stronger institutions, better schools, and direct help to every learner.
