Odisha Surpasses Kerala, Ranks 5th in India’s School Education Index with PRACHESTA-3 Grade.
Odisha has achieved a historic milestone by securing 5th place in the Performance Grading Index (PGI 2.0) 2023-24 for school education, surpassing Kerala and marking a sharp rise from its earlier rank of 24 in 2019. With a commendable score of 595.6, the state has been awarded the PRACHESTA-3 grade, reflecting the outcome of consistent, structured reforms under the visionary 5T initiative spearheaded by the former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government.
The announcement, made in the latest PGI 2.0 report by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, places Odisha among the top-performing states regarding school education outcomes and governance. This leap is being celebrated across the state as a testament to years of foundational work in public education.
A Vision Realised: From Rank 24 to Rank 5 in Just Five Years
The Performance Grading Index (PGI 2.0) evaluates states and Union Territories on 73 indicators across two key categories:
- Learning Outcomes
- Governance and Management
In 2019, Odisha ranked 24th in this index, placing it in the lower half of performing states. In just five years, however, through focused reforms and large-scale transformation projects, Odisha has catapulted to the 5th rank, outperforming traditionally well-performing states like Kerala.
This dramatic improvement reflects a significant governance milestone and showcases the impact of policy-driven development in the education sector.
5T Model: The Driving Force Behind the Transformation
At the heart of Odisha’s transformation lies the 5T initiative, introduced by the former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in 2019. The model is built on five pillars:
- Technology
- Teamwork
- Transparency
- Time-bound delivery
- Transformation
The 5T framework was the blueprint for education reforms, encompassing infrastructure, pedagogy, teacher training, digital learning, and student engagement.
In a post on X, Naveen Patnaik shared:
"Glad to share that Odisha has earned the 5th rank nationally in the School Grading System, as per the Performance Grading Index (PGI-2.0) Report. Under our #5T initiative, we transformed about 7000 schools to unleash new aspirations and open new horizons for school students."
He credited the transformation of 7,000 government schools under 5T as the cornerstone of Odisha’s success and highlighted the role of empowered children in building a #NewOdisha.
VK Pandian Recalls a Once ‘Impossible’ Target
V K Pandian, the former private secretary and close aide of Naveen Patnaik, also celebrated the achievement on Instagram. He revealed that when the 5T framework was introduced in 2019, one of the educational targets set by the CM was for Odisha to “overtake Kerala” in the national school education rankings—a goal many had dismissed as unrealistic.
Pandian wrote:
"When 5T targets were being set up across sectors in 2019, CM Naveen Patnaik had stated that a credible 5T target in school education would be for Odisha to cross Kerala. It sounded impossible at that time. But we could achieve this transformation milestone."
He noted that the PGI 2.0 data, placing Odisha above Kerala in 2023-24, reflects statistical achievement and deep-rooted systemic change.
PRACHESTA-3 Grade: What It Means
Odisha’s PRACHESTA-3 grading is based on its performance across multiple metrics, including:
- Student learning outcomes
- Enrolment and retention rates
- Infrastructure and resource availability
- Teacher qualifications and training
- Academic support systems
- Digital learning adoption
- Community and parental engagement
- Education governance and monitoring
The state’s score of 595.6 highlights its balanced performance across outcome-oriented and management-based criteria. The achievement signals to the country that systemic reforms can quickly yield measurable progress in public education.
A Collective Effort: Recognising Stakeholders
Naveen Patnaik and VK Pandian extended their gratitude to the entire ecosystem of stakeholders who contributed to the state’s remarkable leap in rankings.
Patnaik wrote:
Thank you to all the teachers, parents, administrators, and support staff for the huge transformation. I am glad that the robust foundation for government school education is helping students excel.”
VK Pandian echoed this sentiment:
“The hard work and dedication that have gone in from all quarters have made this possible. Thanking the students, parents, community leaders, PRIs, people’s representatives, SMCs, and government officials who made this transformative target under 5T come true.”
Success is seen as the outcome of collaborative governance, where local participation and strong leadership create synergy at the grassroots level.
National Recognition for a State-Led Model
Odisha’s success story now stands as a model for other Indian states aiming to elevate their education systems. It demonstrates that policy vision can deliver extraordinary outcomes when coupled with targeted implementation and accountability.
The state’s commitment to modernising education infrastructure, digitising classrooms, and improving governance has improved academic results and created a more equitable and aspirational schooling environment.
Conclusion
Odisha’s rise to 5th place in India’s PGI 2.0 school education rankings marks a defining moment in the state’s educational journey. From transforming 7,000 schools under the 5T initiative to surpassing a benchmark state like Kerala, this achievement showcases what visionary leadership, structured reform, and community-driven implementation can accomplish.
As India strives to meet the National Education Policy 2020 goals, Odisha’s example reinforces the belief that state-led innovation and inclusivity are crucial to systemic transformation. The state’s educators, students, and policymakers can take pride in setting a new national standard for progress in school education.
