EDUCATION SYSTEM PERFORMANCE GRADING INDEX (PGI) FOR 2020-21

 An Evidence-Based Comprehensive Analysis of School Education Systems

The Ministry of Education released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for 2020-21, an evidence-based comprehensive analysis of school education systems across states and Union Territories. In the ministry's Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2020-21, a special index for evidence-based comprehensive review of the school education system, six states and one Union territory have achieved the best rating of Level 2 (L2). However, to date, no state has been able to reach the highest level of L1.

Structure of PGI

The PGI structure consists of 1,000 points over 70 indicators, which are divided into Outcomes and Governance and Management, respectively (GM). These groups are further broken down into five domains: Governance Process (GP), Infrastructure & Facilities (IF), Equity (E), and Learning Outcomes (LO). The states and UTs were divided into 10 grades, with Level 1 being the highest grade attainable, as was done in previous years, according to PGI 2020-21. L1, or Level 1, includes the following ranges: 951–1000; L2, 901–950; L3, 851–900; L4, 801–850; L5, 751–800; L6, 701–750; L7, 651–700; and L8, 601-650.

Levels of States in PGI                    

Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Chandigarh are the seven states and UTs that have got L2. Delhi, Karnataka, West Bengal, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman are the states with the most residents and Diu achieved level 3 are in Level 3. Six states each are in level 4 are Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Ladakh, and Tripura achieved level 4 and Bihar, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Telangana made it to level 5. Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Uttarakhand have been placed in level 6 and Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest rating of L6 among all states. Any state or union territory receives a L7 grade The ultimate goal of PGI is to encourage governments and UTs to implement multifaceted interventions that will result in the highly sought ideal educational outcomes in all respects. The PGI is anticipated to assist states and UTs in identifying the gaps and prioritising areas for intervention in order to make sure the school education system is strong at all levels.        

Objectives of PGI                            

With around 14.9 lakh schools, 95 lakh teachers, and nearly 26.5 crore pupils from various socioeconomic backgrounds, the Indian education system is one of the biggest in the world. DoSE&L created PGI for States/UTs to give insights and data-driven procedures on the effectiveness and accomplishments of school education across all States/UTs. The primary objectives of PGI are to advance evidence-based policymaking and emphasise course correction to attain high-quality education for all. DoSE&L has so far made the PGI reports for the fiscal years 2017–18, 2018–19, and 2019–20 accessible. The 2020–21 period is covered by this report.

The Effectiveness of PGI                                                

The grades and scores for the States/UTs for the academic years 2020–21 serve as evidence of the PGI system's effectiveness. The areas in which a state has to make progress are identified by the PGI score broken down by each indicator. The PGI will display the relative performance of all the States and UTs on a consistent scale, encouraging them to improve their performance and adopt top performers' practices. PGI's main objective is to persuade States and UTs to carry out complex interventions that will produce the highly desired ideal educational outcomes in all respects. The PGI is anticipated to assist States and UTs in identifying the gaps and prioritising areas that need to be addressed in order to ensure that the school education system is strong at all levels. The areas in which a state has to make progress are identified by the PGI score broken down by each indicator. All of the States and UTs' relative performance will be shown on a single scale by the PGI, which encourages them to raise their game and implement high-performing methods.