Chandigarh and Punjab have emerged as the top performers in school education, showcasing remarkable achievements in learning outcomes and access. This recognition comes from the recent Performing Grading Index (PGI) report for the academic year 2021-22, released by the Union Education Ministry.
Both Chandigarh and Punjab have been placed in the sixth grade of the PGI index, known as “Prachesta-2.” To achieve this level, a state must score between 641 and 700 points out of a total of 1,000. Surprisingly, no state or union territory (UT) managed to secure a spot in the top five grades.
The PGI 2.0, introduced for 2021-22, categorizes states and UTs into 10 grades. The highest grade, “Daksh,” is reserved for those scoring more than 940 points out of 1,000, while the lowest grade, “Akanshi-3,” is for scores up to 460.
The Education Ministry explained that the PGI 2.0 structure comprises 73 indicators grouped into two categories: Outcomes and Governance Management (GM), amounting to a total of 1,000 points. These categories further divide into six domains, including Learning Outcomes (LO), Access (A), Infrastructure & Facilities (IF), Equity (E), Governance Process (GP), and Teachers Education and Training (TE&T).
Following Chandigarh and Punjab, six states and UTs rank just below them. Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu have earned the seventh level, known as “Prachesta-3,” with scores ranging from 581 to 640 points.
In the previous year, Kerala, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh were the top-performing states, scoring between 901 and 950 points out of 1,000.
“The aim of PGI 2.0 is to propel states and UTs towards implementing multifaceted interventions that will lead to optimal education outcomes in all aspects. The indicators of PGI 2.0 have been aligned with the policy initiatives and interventions introduced after the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to ensure effective progress tracking,” stated the Ministry of Education.
Chandigarh and Punjab’s impressive performance highlights their commitment to quality education and their dedication to continuously improving learning outcomes and accessibility for students.
