SHILLONG, OCT 13: Students in Meghalaya could soon face fewer admission formalities when moving from one stage of schooling to another, with the state Cabinet on Tuesday approving the Meghalaya School Education School Complex Rules, 2026.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the new system aims to link lower primary (LP) and upper primary (UP) schools with designated secondary and higher secondary schools, making it easier for students to continue their education without having to complete fresh admission procedures at every stage.
Explaining the need for the initiative, Sangma highlighted the uneven distribution of schools across different levels of education in the state. Meghalaya has 9,244 lower primary schools, 2,396 upper primary schools, 1,755 secondary schools and 532 higher secondary schools.
He said the existing arrangement often requires students to seek admission multiple times during their school years, including when moving from Class I to Class VI, Class IX and Class XI.
The proposed school complex system will identify nodal secondary and higher secondary schools and attach nearby LP and UP schools to them. This is intended to simplify the transition between classes, including from Class V to Class VI and Class VIII to Class IX, without requiring students to go through repeated admission formalities and obtain transfer certificates at every stage.
Sangma clarified that participation in the arrangement would be voluntary and based on the willingness of schools to work with the government.
He said the initiative would provide a structured process to facilitate students’ transition between schools without interfering with the functioning, management style or decision-making powers of the nodal institutions.
The Chief Minister added that the long-term objective is to develop model nodal schools in every block and sub-division, while improving access to secondary and higher secondary education, particularly in areas where such institutions are currently unavailable.
The government hopes the new framework will strengthen coordination among schools and make the continuation of education more convenient for students across Meghalaya.