Assam govt to shut down 96 schools amidst declining enrollment

Guwahati: The Assam government has decided to "close down" 96 schools in the state with low student enrollment. This follows the closure of over 8,000 institutions due to similar reasons in the past.

Citing the Assam Secondary Education (Provincialisation of Schools) Amendment Act, 2017, the Director of Assam Secondary Education directed the merging of these schools with facilities having a higher student enrolment.

The Director of Assam Secondary Education recently ordered the closure of 96 provincialized high schools and senior secondary schools in the state.

The order impacts 79 high schools and 17 senior secondary schools across various districts. The government emphasizes that affected teachers and staff will be transferred to nearby schools.

Critics argue that closing schools, particularly in rural areas, creates a burden for students who may have to travel long distances to reach the remaining schools. Additionally, the reliance on private education raises concerns about affordability and accessibility for all students.

The government has assured that teachers and staff from the closed schools will be transferred to nearby schools. However, the closures raise questions about the future of thousands of crores of rupees invested in the infrastructure of these institutions.

This move comes amidst a larger trend of declining student enrollment in government schools, potentially leading to a rise in private education. Some question if the government's approach strengthens the public education system or paves the way for its decline.

District-wise Breakup of Closures:

• Dhemaji: 21
• Barpeta & Lakhimpur: 11 each
• Bongaigaon: 9
• Goalpara, Morigaon, & South Salmara: 3 each
• Hailakandi, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Nagaon, Sonitpur, & Tinsukia: 1 each
• Kamrup: 10
• Jorhat & Sivasagar: 4 each
• Golaghat & Nalbari: 2 each
• Dhubri: 7