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Meghalaya's NEP Rollout Stumbles Over Language Issues and Teacher Shortage
✍️ Highland Post
🗓 10 Oct 2026, 03:32 PM
👁 11
State officials say the National Education Policy's rollout in Meghalaya is being hampered by the need to accommodate local languages and a shortage of qualified teachers.
Meghalaya is attempting to align its school system with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, but the transition is encountering significant obstacles, Education Minister Mukul Rymbui said. The state aims to introduce a more flexible, competency‑based curriculum while preserving its linguistic diversity.
The first hurdle is language. Meghalaya recognises several mother‑tongue languages such as Khasi, Garo and Jaintia, and the NEP mandates instruction in the child's first language wherever possible. Officials report a shortage of textbooks and teaching materials in these languages, complicating the shift from the predominantly English medium used in higher grades.
A second, more acute challenge is the dearth of qualified teachers. The state education department estimates that vacancies in primary and secondary schools exceed 30 percent, with many positions remaining unfilled due to limited recruitment pipelines and inadequate training for multilingual instruction.
To address the gaps, the government has announced fast‑track teacher‑training programmes and is seeking central assistance to develop regional language curricula. However, Rymbui cautioned that without swift remedial actions, the NEP’s goals may remain out of reach for Meghalaya’s students.
The first hurdle is language. Meghalaya recognises several mother‑tongue languages such as Khasi, Garo and Jaintia, and the NEP mandates instruction in the child's first language wherever possible. Officials report a shortage of textbooks and teaching materials in these languages, complicating the shift from the predominantly English medium used in higher grades.
A second, more acute challenge is the dearth of qualified teachers. The state education department estimates that vacancies in primary and secondary schools exceed 30 percent, with many positions remaining unfilled due to limited recruitment pipelines and inadequate training for multilingual instruction.
To address the gaps, the government has announced fast‑track teacher‑training programmes and is seeking central assistance to develop regional language curricula. However, Rymbui cautioned that without swift remedial actions, the NEP’s goals may remain out of reach for Meghalaya’s students.