Bhubaneswar: The recently published Performance Grading Index (PGI) report of the school education system by the Ministry of Education has placed Odisha in a challenging position as the Central Government has awarded negligible scores to Odisha in certain critical areas, the State Government said on Saturday.
The mismanagement of data and incorrect input of information are major factors contributing to Odisha’s lower position in the PGI 2021-22, it said.
The report also reveals that Odisha has received negligible scores in certain key indicators, indicating a lack of attention or significance given to these areas by the Central Government.
While Odisha has made remarkable strides in the field of education through the successful implementation of Mo School Abhiyan, harnessing the financial, physical, emotional, and professional support of alumni, the Ministry of Education has undermined the progress achieved through this initiative.
The poor score sourced from the Vidyanjali portal has had a detrimental impact on Odisha’s PGI index, significantly compromising the state’s educational advancements, said the School and Mass Education Department.
The Mo School Abhiyan has successfully transformed school infrastructure, provided essential resources, and created a conducive learning environment across Odisha. By engaging alumni and alma mater, this campaign has fostered collaboration among stakeholders to drive the growth and development of educational institutions. Recognizing the effectiveness of the Mo School concept, the Central Government introduced a similar initiative named Vidyanjali 2.0.
By investing in the education sector, particularly through collaborative efforts with alumni and alma mater, Odisha continues to excel in providing quality education to its students.
However, the PGI score of 2021-22 overlooked the State’s efforts in carrying out one of the largest alumni connect programmes in the world.
The State Government’s 5T High School Transformation Programme has been commendable contributing to the transformation of infrastructure in Government and Government-aided schools in Odisha. The initiative has successfully equipped high schools in Odisha with advanced and world-class infrastructure.
Similarly, the Odisha Adarsha Vidyala (OAV) initiative has also emerged as a game-changing programme in the school and mass education sector of Odisha. This transformative initiative has not only facilitated the establishment of advanced school facilities in rural areas of Odisha but has also ensured access to quality CBSE education for economically disadvantaged students.
The State Government has also urged the Ministry of Education to reassess its approach and conduct a fair evaluation of the initiatives implemented in Odisha.
This ranking specifically pertains to the year 2021-22, which is prior to the implementation and scaling up of the High School Transformation program. Consequently, it does not fully capture the impact of this initiative, including the improvements in high school infrastructure, the expansion of higher secondary schools, and the recruitment of teachers that have taken place in the past and current years.
For the first time, the PGI for the year 2021-22 has incorporated the performance of all categories of schools, including private schools. In contrast, the PGI for the previous year, 2020-21, was calculated solely based on the performance of Government and Government aided schools. The inclusion of private schools in the PGI scoring has contributed to the lower overall performance of the State, clarified the Department.