The Assam Education Department has revealed a critical situation in the state’s schooling sector, with over 60,032 teaching posts lying vacant and more than 30,000 schools experiencing low student enrollment. These startling figures were presented in the Assam Legislative Assembly on Thursday, July 10, 2026, highlighting significant challenges in the state’s efforts to provide quality education.
The report underscores a dual crisis impacting the educational landscape across Assam, raising concerns about the quality of instruction, the burden on existing educators, and the overall effectiveness of the state’s school system. The revelations come amidst ongoing efforts by the state government to reform and strengthen the education sector, as officials acknowledge the need for immediate and comprehensive interventions.
What was announced
During the recent session of the Assam Legislative Assembly on Thursday, July 10, 2026, the Education Department presented a comprehensive report detailing the state of school education. The report highlighted that a staggering 60,032 teaching posts are currently vacant across various schools in Assam. School Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, in a written reply to queries, provided these figures to the House.
In addition to the teacher shortage, the report also brought to light the issue of dwindling student numbers, with 32,321 schools operating with fewer than 30 students each. This reflects a consistent decline in enrollment across several parts of the state. Furthermore, 7,948 schools do not adhere to the mandated 30:1 pupil-teacher ratio (PTR), indicating an uneven distribution of teaching staff and a potential impact on classroom learning.
The Minister also informed the Assembly that nearly 25,000 educational institutions have applied for provincialisation after an online portal was opened for this purpose. These applications include 6,163 lower primary schools, 10,101 upper primary schools, 5,733 high schools, and 1,222 senior secondary schools. The applications are currently under examination in accordance with the Assam Education (Provincialisation of Services of Teachers and Reorganisation of Educational Institutions) Act and related rules, Minister Pegu said.
Why it matters
The extensive number of vacant teaching positions directly impacts the quality of education and places an increased workload on existing teachers, as noted by the Education Department. The presence of single-teacher schools, a concern raised by AIUDF MLA Badruddin Ajmal during the Question Hour, has been acknowledged by Minister Pegu as a “big problem” for the state. Such staffing deficiencies can severely hinder effective instruction and student engagement, particularly in rural and remote areas.
The low student enrollment figures in over 30,000 schools signal a broader challenge in retaining students within the government education system. This trend, coupled with the teacher shortage, could lead to poorer learning outcomes and a widening gap in educational standards across different regions of Assam. The opposition has voiced concerns that this situation poses a major hurdle to improving learning outcomes in government schools.
Addressing these issues is crucial for Assam’s long-term social and economic development, as investment in education remains a key priority for the government, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has repeatedly emphasised. The challenges highlight the need for strategic planning in teacher recruitment, deployment, and infrastructure development to ensure equitable access to quality education for all students.
Background
Assam’s education sector has faced persistent challenges related to teacher shortages and student enrollment over the years. In February 2021, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was then the state’s Education Minister, announced that 71,000 teachers had been recruited in the preceding five years, claiming that most vacancies in the department had been filled. However, subsequent reports indicate a resurgence of vacancies.
In September 2023, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu stated in the Assembly that over 15,000 teaching positions at the school level and an additional 1,300 in colleges and universities were vacant. Later, in December 2023, the government announced a recruitment drive for 14,223 school teacher positions. This was followed by another announcement in January 2025 for the recruitment of 4,500 Lower Primary and Upper Primary teachers.
The issue of low student enrollment is not new. Assam recorded a 4.1% decline in student enrollment in government and government-aided schools in 2024–25, a drop of 2,12,768 students from the previous academic year. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu attributed this decline partly to demographic changes, including sustained decreases in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR), leading to fewer children entering the school system.
In response to declining enrollment, the Assam government initiated a directive in June 2026 for the merger of primary schools with fewer than 30 students, aiming to rationalise the school education network and optimise resources. The government has also launched initiatives like “Utsav Vidyarambha” to boost enrollment and community participation in schools.
Efforts to improve education quality also include the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in higher education institutions, which Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched in June 2023. The state government has also pledged significant investment, with CM Sarma announcing in July 2025 an ambitious plan to invest ₹2,750 crore over five years to enhance school infrastructure, early childhood education, and reduce dropout rates.
However, concerns about teacher quality, training, and the burden of non-teaching duties persist. A Performance Grading Index 2.0 report by the Union Education Ministry in June 2025 ranked Assam in the second lowest grade for school education, highlighting deficiencies in areas like teacher education and training.
Key details
The report presented to the Assam Legislative Assembly on Thursday, July 10, 2026, highlighted several critical figures concerning the state’s education sector.
- Total vacant teaching posts: 60,032 across schools.
- Schools with low enrollment (fewer than 30 students): 32,321.
- Schools not meeting 30:1 Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR): 7,948.
- Total sanctioned teacher posts across all levels of schools in Assam: 1,54,078.
- Vacancies in primary education: 18,801 posts (including 11,662 in lower primary and 7,139 in upper primary schools).
- Vacancies in secondary and higher secondary schools: 11,231 posts.
- Educational institutions applied for provincialisation: Nearly 25,000.
Reactions
“Single-teacher schools are a big problem for us. We are trying not to make a school run by a single teacher. The PTR in Assam is good in the entire India scenario,” School Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said in the Assembly, addressing concerns raised by AIUDF MLA Badruddin Ajmal.
The opposition expressed concern over the growing number of schools with low enrollment and the large number of teacher vacancies, arguing that the situation poses a major challenge to improving learning outcomes in government schools.
What’s next
The Assam government has outlined a three-pronged strategy to address the teacher shortage and improve educational outcomes: regular recruitment, intra-district rationalisation of teachers, and the merger or amalgamation of schools. Minister Ranoj Pegu stated that the government is preparing vacancy lists from schools as part of its commitment to recruit two lakh youths into government jobs, with recruitment for teaching positions to follow once the process is complete.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also reviewed various education sector initiatives on June 18, 2026, directing departments to accelerate schemes, recruitment, and institutional upgrades to enhance student access. The government is also focusing on strengthening school infrastructure, enhancing early childhood education, and reducing dropout rates through significant investments.
Leave a Comment
Be the first to share a thought on this notification.