SHILLONG, Oct 13: The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved a new framework linking schools of different levels so that students can move from one stage to the next without repeated admission formalities.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the Cabinet cleared the Meghalaya School Education School Complex Rules, 2026. The rules aim to establish links between lower and upper primary schools and nearby secondary and higher secondary institutions.
The move addresses a clear imbalance in the state’s school network: Meghalaya has 9,244 lower primary and 2,396 upper primary schools, but only 1,755 secondary and 532 higher secondary schools. Students often face fresh admission procedures and the need for transfer certificates when progressing to the next level.
Under the new arrangement, nodal schools will be linked with surrounding institutions to facilitate smooth progression, including from Class 5 to Class 6 and Class 8 to Class 9. Participation will be voluntary; only institutions willing to collaborate will join, and the framework will not interfere with their decision-making.
Sangma said the initiative will also help the government build a more coordinated network of secondary and higher secondary schools across blocks, subdivisions and districts, especially in areas where higher-level schooling remains limited. The rules are expected to reduce paperwork and ensure greater continuity in students’ education.