Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ approved the release of Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2019-20 for States and Union Territories of India today.
The Government has introduced the Performance Grading Index with a set of 70 parameters to catalyse transformational change in the field of school education.
As per PGI 2019-20, Odisha has shown significant improvement of 20% in Infrastructure and Facilities domain. Apart from Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has also shown 20% improvement in infrastructure and facilities.
As many as thirteen States and UTs have shown improvement by 10% (15 points) or more in the PGI domain of Infrastructure and Facilities.
Another domain which Odisha has improved on as compared to the previous year is Equity. PGI 2019-20 indicated that Odisha, Manipur and Arunanchal Pradesh have improved by 10% on Equity in the national index.
Nineteen States and UTs have shown improvement by 10% (36 points) or more in the PGI domain: Governance Process. Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal have shown improvement by at least 20% (72 points or more).
Punjab, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Kerala occupy the highest grade (Grade A++) for 2019-20.
Most of the States/UTs have improved their grade in PGI 2019-20 compared to the earlier years.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Puducherry, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have improved overall PGI score by 10%, i.e., 100 or more points.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Punjab have shown improvement by 10% (8 points) or more in the PGI domain: Access.
The PGI for States and Union Territories was first published in 2019 with reference year 2017-18. The PGI : States/UTs for 2019-20 is the third publication in this series.
The PGI exercise envisages that the index would propel States and UTs towards undertaking multi-pronged interventions that will that will bring about the much-desired optimal education outcomes.
The PGI helps the States/UTs to pinpoint the gaps and accordingly prioritise areas for intervention to ensure that the school education system is robust at every level.
Odisha scored 838, in the Level IV (Grade I) range between 801 and 850. Other States and UT in this range are Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Daman and Diu, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh.
Seven States and UT made it to Level III Grade I+ (851 to 900), while five to Level II Grade I++ (901 to 950). No State or UT could reach the top (Level I) with score in the range of 951 to 1000.
The report stated, “For the first time, 5 States and UTs have crossed the threshold of 90% PGI score and reached Grade I++. A total of 33 States and UTs have improved their total PGI score in 2019-20 as compared to 2018-19.”
