In the recently released Performance Grading Index (PGI) report by the Ministry of Education, nine Indian states, including Kerala, have been downgraded in terms of education quality. This has raised concerns about the declining standards even in traditionally high-performing regions. Kerala, long considered a model for literacy and schooling, has slipped in multiple areas including learning outcomes, equity, and digital learning infrastructure. The PGI evaluates states on a scale of 1,000 points across 70 parameters to measure school education quality and governance.
I’m writing about this topic because it’s important to go beyond just celebrating literacy rates and focus on the actual quality of learning in schools. Kerala slipping in the PGI rankings shows that even states with high enrolment and literacy can fall behind if they don’t keep pace with evolving standards. Other states affected in this report include Punjab, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and a few northeastern states. The decline in scores has serious implications for teachers, students, and education policy planners. It’s not just about rankings—this impacts the future of our children and the strength of our workforce.
What is the Performance Grading Index (PGI)?
The PGI is an annual tool developed by the Ministry of Education to evaluate and grade states and union territories on school education performance. It scores states based on five broad categories:
- Learning Outcomes and Quality
- Access
- Infrastructure & Facilities
- Equity
- Governance Processes
Each of these areas contributes to the overall score out of 1,000. States are then grouped into grades like Daksh (highest), Prachesta (medium performance), and Akanshi (low performing). The goal is to encourage data-based policy decisions and targeted improvements.
Kerala’s Surprising Decline
Kerala, known for its near-universal literacy rate and strong public schooling system, has slipped to a lower grade in the latest PGI. Some of the contributing factors include:
- Lower scores in digital learning access
- Sluggish improvement in learning outcomes of students
- Gaps in performance between general and marginalised groups
- Infrastructure inconsistencies, especially in rural areas
Though Kerala still remains above the national average in many areas, its downgrade is a warning sign that foundational learning cannot be taken for granted.
Other States That Declined
Along with Kerala, the following states were also downgraded:
- Punjab
- Maharashtra
- Himachal Pradesh
- Delhi
- Uttarakhand
- Tripura
- Meghalaya
- Nagaland
These states showed a decline in various parameters such as governance, digital access, teacher training, and student performance. Some urban areas also reported poor infrastructure maintenance and digital learning gaps post-pandemic.
Why This Decline Matters
A downgrade in the PGI is not just a data point—it reflects deeper systemic challenges:
- Inadequate training for teachers in new teaching methods
- Poor implementation of schemes like Samagra Shiksha
- Increasing reliance on private tuition and coaching
- Delayed adaptation to digital learning
For students, this can result in loss of interest, lower grades, and long-term skill deficits. For parents and policymakers, it’s a signal to pay attention to the quality of learning and not just access to schools.
What Can Be Done
To reverse the trend, states need to:
- Invest in teacher development programmes
- Improve classroom infrastructure, especially in remote areas
- Ensure digital access for all students
- Use PGI data to set district-wise improvement targets
- Involve local communities in monitoring and feedback
It’s also important that students’ learning levels are assessed regularly, and remedial support is provided in time.
