Shillong, Jan 16: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Friday approved a series of key decisions, including a major education reform introducing Community-Integrated Skill Learning (CISL) for Classes VI to X and a new provision allowing private candidates to appear for the SSLC examination.
The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting held at Mawkasiang and are aimed at strengthening experiential learning, widening access to education, and recognising excellence across arts, social service and sports.
Under the CISL framework, Health and Physical Education—currently taught largely through textbooks—will be redesigned as a skill-based, experiential subject. Students will be encouraged to identify and learn practical skills aligned with their interests and family or community occupations, such as agriculture, crafts or other local livelihoods. These skills will be learned, practised and demonstrated as part of academic assessment, officials said.
The Cabinet also approved a new provision enabling private candidates to register and sit for the SSLC examination under the Meghalaya Board of School Education. The move is intended to help students who could not clear Class 10 earlier or were forced to discontinue studies after Class 8 to re-enter the education system and complete their schooling.
On the occasion, the Cabinet approved the Meghalaya Day Awardees for 2026, naming Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih for the U Tirot Sing Award for Arts & Literature, Benoy Joseph for the Pa Togan Sangma Award for Social Services, and Riiohlang Dhar for the U Kiang Nangbah Award for Sports & Games.
Other approvals included amendments to the Meghalaya Border Areas Development Service Rules, 2025; extensions of service for senior officials in key departments; and clearance of the Republic Day Speech and nomination of VIPs to take the salute at Republic Day celebrations in 2026.
 for Classes VI to X and a new provision allowing private candidates to appear for the SSLC examination.){kind=link}