Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, June 18, 2026, chaired a comprehensive review meeting with the state’s education department to assess ongoing schemes and critical issues, including proposals for the creation of new posts, aimed at a holistic transformation of the state’s education ecosystem. The meeting, which included Education Minister Ranoj Pegu and officials from both the education and finance departments, focused on improving quality, addressing regional disparities, and enhancing access to education for students across Assam.

The Chief Minister’s directive emphasised ensuring that key educational indicators such as dropout ratios, teacher-student ratios, geographical parity, and gross enrolment ratios surpass the national average. Discussions also covered budgetary allocations, implementation of flagship schemes like Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu, and ongoing teacher recruitment drives.

What was announced

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma conducted a detailed review of the education sector in Assam on June 18, 2026, covering school, secondary, higher, and technical education. During the meeting, held in Guwahati, he assessed the progress of various initiatives and key challenges.

According to a social media post by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the government’s vision is to “holistically transform the state’s education ecosystem and deliver the best quality of teaching for the student community.” Sarma outlined three core pillars for this transformation: improving quality, ending regional disparity, and enhancing access for students.

The review specifically touched upon the implementation status of student welfare schemes such as the distribution of free scooters, bicycles, and textbooks, alongside the state’s free admission scheme for higher education. The functioning of government model colleges and tea garden model schools also received special attention.

Officials also discussed ongoing teacher recruitment drives across various categories, strategies to reduce dropout rates in higher education, and proposals for creating new posts within the department. Plans to upgrade existing high schools into higher secondary institutions were also reviewed.

“Our vision is to holistically transform the state’s education ecosystem and deliver the best quality of teaching for the student community. Our focus rests on three key pillars – improve quality, end regional disparity and enhance access for our students,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said after the meeting.

He further instructed officials to ensure standardised infrastructural amenities in every school, including optimal access to electricity, toilets, drinking water, and functional classrooms.

Why it matters

This comprehensive review signals the Assam government’s sustained commitment to overhauling its education sector, directly impacting millions of students and thousands of educators across the state. The emphasis on improving key indicators like dropout rates and teacher-student ratios aims to address long-standing systemic issues that have hindered educational progress.

The discussion on creating new posts is particularly significant for job aspirants in Assam, indicating potential future employment opportunities within the education department. The state has previously undertaken major recruitment drives, with nearly 95,000 teachers recruited over the last five years, and a target of another 65,000 teachers in the next five years.

Focusing on regional disparity and access aims to benefit students in remote and economically weaker regions, including tea garden communities, who often face significant barriers to quality education. Initiatives like free textbooks, uniforms, bicycles, and fee waivers are already in place to reduce financial burdens and boost enrolment and retention.

The upgrade of high schools to higher secondary institutions will expand access to advanced learning, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which the state launched in June 2023.

Background

Assam has consistently prioritised education reform and expansion since the current government took office. In August 2021, Chief Minister Sarma announced the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from April 1, 2022, with a pledge to upgrade all high schools to senior secondary schools.

The state has also made substantial investments in infrastructure. In February 2026, Chief Minister Sarma inaugurated 67 new school buildings and laid foundations for 61 more, investing ₹760 crore to modernise the education sector. The government has committed to reconstructing and upgrading 1,318 school buildings and filling a significant number of teaching positions.

Efforts to boost teacher recruitment have been ongoing. In March 2026, 5,690 candidates received appointment letters in the education sector, contributing to a total of 1,64,359 government jobs provided by the state, surpassing the initial promise of one lakh jobs. The government aims to recruit another 65,000 teachers in the next five years.

To address student retention, particularly among girls, the state launched schemes like ‘Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Asoni’ in 2026, providing monthly financial assistance to over 5.5 lakh girl students. This scheme, along with ‘Nijut Babu’ for boys, has shown positive results in reducing dropout rates and increasing gross enrolment ratios.

Despite these efforts, challenges persist. A May 2026 NITI Aayog report highlighted significant improvements in infrastructure but also pointed to concerns regarding enrolment, retention, and high dropout rates, particularly at the secondary level, where Assam’s dropout rate was 17.5%, among the highest in India.

The state has also focused on establishing model schools in tea garden areas, upgrading existing institutions, and expanding technical education, including establishing seven new government model colleges.

Key details

The review meeting on June 18, 2026, involved detailed discussions on several key areas:

  • Budgetary Allocations: An assessment of funds allocated and expenditure across school, secondary, higher, and technical education sectors.
  • Flagship Schemes: Review of implementation status for schemes such as Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu, which provide financial assistance to students.
  • Student Welfare Programmes: Progress on the distribution of free scooters, bicycles, and textbooks, and the state’s free admission scheme for higher education.
  • Institutional Functioning: Special emphasis on the performance of government model colleges and tea garden model schools.
  • Teacher Recruitment: Discussions on ongoing recruitment drives across various categories of teachers.
  • Dropout Reduction: Measures to decrease dropout rates, particularly in higher education.
  • New Post Proposals: Review of proposals for the creation of new positions within the education department.
  • Infrastructure Upgrades: Plans to upgrade high schools to higher secondary institutions and ensure standardised amenities like electricity, toilets, and drinking water in all schools.

Reactions

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reiterated the government’s resolve to elevate the state’s educational standards.

“My instructions to officials have been clear — to ensure key indicators such as dropout ratio, teacher-student ratio, geographical parity, gross enrolment ratio, among others, exceed national average,” Sarma said.

Education Minister Ranoj Pegu and officials from the finance department were present, indicating a coordinated effort across departments to achieve these educational objectives.

What’s next

The directives issued by Chief Minister Sarma will now guide the education and finance departments in their ongoing efforts. The focus will be on the timely execution and effective implementation of the reviewed initiatives.

The proposals for new posts are expected to move through the administrative process, potentially leading to future recruitment notifications. The state government’s stated aim to recruit another 65,000 teachers in the next five years suggests a sustained push for employment in the education sector.

The department will also work towards ensuring that Assam’s educational indicators not only meet but surpass national averages, with continuous monitoring of progress on dropout rates, teacher-student ratios, and infrastructure development.

Sources & References

Source: Assam CM reviews initiatives taken to strengthen education ecosystem | The Shillong Times