Shillong: The Meghalaya Teacher Training Academy (MTTA) was inaugurated by CM Conrad K Sangma in the state capital on Thursday to boost the education sector in the state.The establishment of MTTA follows challenges flagged by national assessments such as PGI 2.0 and PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, which placed Meghalaya in the lowest performance category (Akanshi-3) in student learning outcomes. Data also showed that only 17% of teachers in the state participated in any professional development in the previous year.“ Recognising this, the govt has moved away from fragmented, one-off training workshops towards a structured, continuous professional development ecosystem. The MTTA has been set up as an autonomous statutory body under the Meghalaya Societies Registration Act, 1983, with strong administrative backing and direct oversight at the highest levels,” an official statement said.“This academy will play a crucial role in addressing long-standing gaps, especially in teacher training. It is about creating a system that will strengthen the foundation of education in Meghalaya,” the CM said.Acknowledging the complexity of reforming the education system, the CM emphasised that “meaningful change requires sustained effort rather than quick fixes”.He also highlighted key decisions taken by the govt, including the rationalisation and pay restructuring of over 23,000 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers, an initiative involving an annual financial commitment of nearly Rs 800 crore.“The MTTA introduces a decentralised ‘Hub-and-Spoke’ model, with the academy serving as the apex institution connected to District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) and Centre for Teacher Education (CTE) across districts. This ensures that high-quality, standardised training reaches teachers closer to their workplaces, minimising disruption to academic schedules,” the education department said.“The Academy will also leverage specialised expertise, including data analytics, EdTech solutions, and on-ground training management, to ensure targeted and measurable outcomes,” the release read.
