Odisha Surpasses Kerala in School Performance Rankings, Showcasing Gains in Rural and Tribal Districts

Bhubaneswar, July 4, 2025 — Odisha has achieved a remarkable milestone in its education sector, climbing to the 5th rank nationally in the Performance Grading Index (PGI-2.0) for the 2023-24 academic year, surpassing Kerala, a state long regarded as a leader in education. This leap from 14th place in 2019 highlights significant improvements, particularly in rural and tribal districts, driven by the state’s transformative 5T initiative.

The PGI-2.0, released by the Ministry of Education, evaluates school education across 73 indicators in two categories: Outcomes and Governance & Management. Odisha scored 595.6 out of 1,000, earning the PRACHESTA-3 grade, placing it among the top performers alongside states like Punjab, Delhi, and Gujarat. Notably, Odisha excelled in the “access” domain, achieving the highest grade with a score between 941 and 1,000, reflecting enhanced enrollment and retention, especially in underserved areas.

Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who led the state from 2000 to 2024, credited the success to the 5T initiative (Teamwork, Technology, Transparency, Transformation, and Time), which modernized approximately 7,000 schools. “Under our #5T initiative, we transformed about 7,000 schools to unleash new aspirations and open new horizons for school students,” Patnaik shared in a post on X. He emphasized the collective efforts of teachers, parents, administrators, and support staff in empowering children and building a “new Odisha.”

V.K. Pandian, a former aide to Patnaik, noted that surpassing Kerala was a target set in 2019, deemed ambitious at the time. “It sounded impossible, but we could achieve this transformation milestone,” he stated on Instagram, highlighting Odisha’s rise above Kerala in education rankings.

District-level data underscores the progress in rural and tribal areas. Jharsuguda emerged as a standout, securing the ‘Uttam-3’ grade with a score of 383 out of 600 in the PGI-District (PGI-D) rankings, excelling in learning outcomes, classroom quality, and digital adoption. Other districts like Nuapada, Jagatsinghpur, Angul, and Koraput achieved ‘Prachesta-1’ grades, showing strong progress. However, challenges persist in districts like Rayagada, which ranked among the lowest, signaling a need for targeted interventions.

Despite the gains, gaps remain in digital learning and teacher training. Only a few districts, including Jharsuguda, Khurda, Sambalpur, and Sonepur, scored above 20 out of 50 in the digital learning domain, indicating a need for enhanced infrastructure. The PGI report also highlighted the necessity for improved teacher training to bridge learning outcome disparities, particularly in tribal regions.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is set to review the education system in four aspirational southern Odisha districts on July 6, focusing on challenges like access to quality education, dropout rates, and teacher availability in tribal-dominated areas. This review aims to build on Odisha’s progress and address remaining gaps.

Odisha’s ascent in the national rankings reflects a broader transformation in rural education, with increased enrollment and pre-primary participation. However, as noted in a recent Times of India report, converting enrollment into meaningful learning outcomes, particularly in reading comprehension, remains a challenge across India’s rural schools.

The state’s focus on inclusive education and infrastructure upgrades has positioned it as a model for others, with its achievements in rural and tribal districts marking a significant step toward educational equity. As Odisha continues to address its challenges, its rise above Kerala signals a new era for school education in the state.