Meghalaya: 9,767 dropouts register for Class X SSLC exam in December 2026
Synopsis
A 59-year-old man who last sat in a classroom in 1989 is among 9,767 dropouts who have signed up for Meghalaya's Class X board exam in December 2026. The state's Second Chance Learning Program, backed by MBOSE and MPOWER, has drawn registrations from all 12 districts — a quiet but remarkable push for inclusive education that NEP 2020 envisioned on paper.
Key Takeaways
9,767 former school dropouts have registered as private candidates for the SSLC (Class X) examination in Meghalaya , scheduled for December 2026 .
Registrations come from all 12 districts of Meghalaya; Ri Bhoi district alone has 690 candidates.
The oldest candidate, Sylvester Shadap , 59, from Ri Bhoi district , dropped out of school in 1989 — nearly 37 years ago .
The programme is run jointly by the Meghalaya government , MBOSE , and MPOWER , with 171 learning and assessment centres across the state.
Free self-study materials have been distributed in Khasi , Garo , English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and Health.
The initiative aligns with NEP 2020 and aims to connect graduates with higher education, vocational training, and livelihood opportunities.
As many as 9,767 former school dropouts across Meghalaya have registered as private candidates for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination scheduled for December 2026, officials confirmed on Tuesday, 29 September. The registrations mark a significant milestone for the state's re-entry education drive, offering a flexible second chance to learners who had discontinued formal schooling.
The Second Chance Learning Program
The initiative is a joint effort of the Meghalaya government, the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE), and the Meghalaya Program for Adolescent Wellbeing, Empowerment and Resilience (MPOWER). Candidates are not required to rejoin a full-time conventional school — instead, they can prepare through 171 notified learning and assessment centres established across the state. The programme imposes no upper age limit, welcoming adolescents, young adults, and older learners alike.
A 59-Year-Old Leads by Example
The oldest registered candidate is 59-year-old Sylvester Shadap from Thadrang Umngem village in Ri Bhoi district, who left school in 1989 — nearly 37 years ago. Shadap said he had dropped out around 37 years ago and wanted 'to encourage children and others who had left school to return to education.' He acknowledged the challenges of adapting to curriculum changes after such a long gap but said he remained determined to work hard. His story has become a symbol of the programme's inclusive reach.
District-Wide Reach and Free Study Materials
Registrations have been received from all 12 districts of Meghalaya. Ri Bhoi district alone accounts for 690 registered candidates, and the Mawlasnai centre has 185 learners enrolled. The programme has developed and distributed free self-study materials in Khasi, Garo, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English, and Health, ensuring that financial barriers do not obstruct preparation.
Why These Learners Left School
According to officials, the private SSLC pathway is specifically designed for those who left school due to financial difficulties, family responsibilities, migration, early marriage, geographical barriers, or other personal circumstances. MBOSE provides the academic and examination framework, while MPOWER handles community mobilisation, mentoring, registration, learner tracking, and follow-up support.
Alignment with NEP 2020 and What Comes Next
The programme aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's emphasis on flexible learning, inclusion, re-entry pathways, and lifelong learning. Beyond the Class X certificate, the initiative aims to connect successful candidates with higher secondary education, vocational training, skills development, and livelihood opportunities. With the examination set for December 2026, the coming weeks will be critical for candidates as they finalise their preparation across Meghalaya's 171 learning centres.
Point of View
767 registrations are a meaningful ground-level signal that demand for second-chance education exists well beyond urban policy conversations. The inclusion of a 59-year-old candidate who dropped out in 1989 is not a curiosity — it is a diagnostic: formal schooling has failed a generation of learners in Meghalaya, and the gap has never been adequately bridged. The programme's real test will come after December 2026 — specifically, what percentage of registered candidates actually sit the exam, what pass rates look like, and whether the promised linkages to higher secondary and vocational pathways materialise or remain aspirational footnotes. NEP 2020 creates the policy architecture; state-level execution like this will determine whether it moves the needle on India's still-substantial out-of-school adult population.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Meghalaya's Second Chance Learning Program?
It is a joint initiative of the Meghalaya government, MBOSE, and MPOWER that allows school dropouts to register as private candidates and sit the Class X SSLC examination without rejoining a full-time school. The programme has no upper age limit and provides free study materials and 171 learning centres across the state.
When is the Meghalaya private SSLC examination scheduled?
The private SSLC examination is scheduled for December 2026. Candidates have been registering from all 12 districts of Meghalaya ahead of that date.
Who is the oldest candidate registered under this programme?
The oldest registered candidate is 59-year-old Sylvester Shadap from Thadrang Umngem village in Ri Bhoi district, who dropped out of school in 1989 — nearly 37 years ago. He said he wants to encourage others who left school to return to education.
Why did most candidates drop out of school originally?
According to officials, the primary reasons include financial difficulties, family responsibilities, migration, early marriage, geographical barriers, and other personal circumstances. The programme specifically targets those for whom conventional schooling was not a viable option.
What happens after candidates pass the SSLC examination?
The programme aims to connect successful learners with higher secondary education, vocational education, skills training, and livelihood opportunities. It aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's vision of flexible, inclusive, and lifelong learning pathways.
