Just days after the Assam government closed 34 high schools because none of its students passed the 10th board exams, the state government has also closed 1710 primary schools across the state. The state education department has completed the process of closing the specified primary schools and merging them with neighbouring schools as part of the ongoing school rationalisation process in the state.
These schools had extremely few students for a variety of reasons, including the availability of numerous primary schools in the same area, and had a severely skewed teacher-student ratio that made maintaining those schools unsustainable.
In several schools, the number of students in some courses was in the single digits. The state government had sent warnings to all schools with fewer than 30 students, informing them that their schools would be combined with neighbouring government schools and their staff moved to other schools.
This scenario developed after the state government provincialized a large number of private schools known as venture schools, resulting in many government schools in the same areas. In addition, the construction of English-medium private schools has contributed to the decrease in the number of children enrolled in government schools.
Although there have been protests against school merging, the state administration has taken a firm stance on the issue, stating that schools with poor results and a low student population will be closed and combined with neighbouring schools. 1710 schools in 20 districts have been closed as a result of the decision.
There are 62 schools in Barpeta district, 68 in Bongaigaon district, 129 in Cachar, 64 in Darrang, 85 in Dhemaji, 56 in Dhubri, 60 in Dibrugarh, 89 in Goalpara, 45 in Golaghat, 59 in Hailakandi, 182 in Jorhat district, 94 in Kamrup Metro, 50 in Tinsukia, 105 in Sonitpur, 136 in Sivasagar, 134 in Nalbari, 90 in Nagaon, 148 schools in Morigaon and 49 primary schools in Karimganj.
According to the state government, the goal of the school merger is to achieve a standard teacher-pupil ratio, optimal personnel services, savings in administrative costs, and other logistical assistance for the schools.
Education minister Ranoj Pegu stated that this is a continuing process and that school amalgamation will continue depending on board exam results and student enrollment. The Himanta Biswa Sarma government has taken various initiatives to reform and strengthen the education sector, including opening new schools in underserved areas and combining schools in overcrowded places.
Yesterday, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that 100 new secondary schools for children of tea garden workers were opened this year, with another 100 planned.