Assam Education Minister Reveals Alarming Statistics on Single-Teacher Schools and Declining Institutions
In a significant disclosure before the Assam Legislative Assembly, State Education Minister Ranoj Pegu presented concerning data about the state's educational infrastructure. The minister confirmed that a staggering 2,670 government schools across Assam are currently being operated by just a single teacher, highlighting a critical staffing crisis in the public education system.
Dramatic Decline in Total Number of Government Schools
Minister Pegu provided comprehensive data showing a substantial reduction in the overall number of government-run educational institutions over the past decade. According to the figures tabled in the House, the total count of government schools has plummeted from 52,228 to 44,300, representing a decline of approximately 8,000 schools.
The detailed breakdown reveals a mixed picture across different educational levels. While government higher secondary schools have shown positive growth—increasing from 925 in the 2016–17 academic year to 1,256 in 2024–25—other categories have experienced significant reductions.
- Primary schools have decreased from 39,986 to 33,394
- Upper primary schools have fallen from 7,832 to 6,343
- High schools have reduced from 3,485 to 3,307
Teacher Distribution and Vacancy Crisis Across Educational Levels
The minister was responding to a question posed by Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi regarding the status of quality education in Assam's schools. Pegu provided specific details about teacher distribution, noting that excluding headmasters, 4,041 schools with five classes have five or more teachers, while 1,733 schools with six classes have six or more teachers.
However, the vacancy situation presents a serious challenge. Upper primary schools are currently facing 4,805 vacant teacher positions, including:
- 3,006 assistant teachers
- 1,197 Hindi teachers
- 602 science teachers
High schools are grappling with an even more severe shortage, with 7,396 vacancies distributed as:
- 1,924 science teachers
- 650 mathematics teachers
- 3,750 arts teachers
- 1,072 Hindi teachers
Higher secondary schools have 242 vacancies, including 72 science teachers, 66 mathematics teachers, 98 English teachers, and six Hindi teachers.
Leadership Vacancies and Special Focus on Tribal Districts
The leadership structure of Assam's schools also shows significant gaps. According to Minister Pegu, 13,614 primary schools currently lack permanent headmasters, while 3,402 upper primary schools are operating without permanent headmasters.
In the tribal-inhabited Sixth Schedule districts, the educational challenges are particularly pronounced. High schools in these regions have 713 teacher vacancies across science, mathematics, arts, and Hindi subjects, while higher secondary schools face 76 vacancies in English, Hindi, and mathematics.
The minister emphasized that despite these challenges, there is currently no primary school in Assam operating completely without a teacher, though the single-teacher schools represent a significant quality concern for educational delivery across the state.
