The Assam government is actively preparing a common unified management rule for teachers, a move aimed at simplifying administrative procedures following the earlier merger of the Elementary and Secondary Education departments into a single Department of School Education. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu informed the Assam Legislative Assembly about this ongoing development on Thursday, July 23, 2026. This initiative seeks to streamline the administrative framework for educators across the state, ensuring greater efficiency and coherence in teacher management. The unified rules are expected to address various aspects of teachers’ service, from posting and transfers to other administrative processes, ultimately contributing to the state’s broader educational reform agenda.

What was announced

Education Minister Ranoj Pegu announced in the Assam Legislative Assembly on July 23, 2026, that the state government is in the process of formulating a common unified management rule for teachers. This development follows the significant administrative restructuring undertaken in September 2022, when the Department of Elementary Education and the Department of Secondary Education were consolidated into a singular ‘Department of School Education’. Minister Pegu clarified that this merger was executed to align Assam’s educational administration with the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which categorises education into school education and higher education at the central ministry level.

Why it matters

The impending unified management rule for teachers holds substantial significance for Assam’s education sector and its thousands of educators. By simplifying administrative procedures, the government aims to reduce bureaucratic complexities that teachers often face, potentially improving their working conditions and allowing them to focus more effectively on teaching. This reform is a direct consequence of the administrative merger of the elementary and secondary education departments, which created a unified command structure for school education across the state. The move is expected to foster better resource utilisation, enhance institutional efficiency, and contribute to the overall improvement of educational quality in Assam, according to statements from Education Department officials. The rationalisation of administrative processes is also seen as crucial for the effective implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 at the ground level.

Background

The administrative merger of the Elementary and Secondary Education departments by the Assam government in September 2022 marked a pivotal step in the state’s efforts to reform its education system. Prior to this, the two departments operated independently, often leading to fragmented policies and administrative challenges in managing school education from primary to higher secondary levels. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu highlighted that the consolidation was a strategic move to mirror the structure of the central Ministry of Human Resources, which maintains a unified Department of School Education. This alignment is fundamental to the comprehensive implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for a seamless continuum of school education. This departmental merger is part of a broader series of reforms initiated by the Assam government to rationalise its educational infrastructure and enhance efficiency. Another significant step in this direction was the decision in November 2023 to merge the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA), responsible for Class 10 examinations, and the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), which oversees Class 12 examinations. This merger led to the formation of the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB), with its chairman appointed in September 2024, aiming to create a single, integrated body for the development, regulation, and supervision of school education standards up to Class 12. Concurrently, the state has been engaged in an extensive school amalgamation policy under the ‘Siksha Khetra’ scheme, primarily targeting schools with low student enrolment. Between 2016 and 2026, approximately 7,380 schools were amalgamated across the state. As of December 2025, over 2,900 government schools had been merged with nearby institutions over the preceding five years to optimise resources. The Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam, in June 2026, directed district authorities to identify elementary schools with fewer than 30 students for potential merger. Minister Pegu, on July 23, 2026, offered legislators a one-year window to boost enrolment in these low-strength schools before further amalgamation proceeds, underscoring the government’s commitment to rationalising educational infrastructure without adversely affecting student access. This ongoing rationalisation is aimed at addressing declining student numbers in many government-run schools, particularly in rural areas, and ensuring optimal utilisation of teaching staff and infrastructure. Furthermore, the government has focused on provincialisation of services for teachers. As of July 23, 2026, over 4,300 schools and 15,000 teachers have been provincialised under various acts, including amendments made in 2025 to the Assam Education (Provincialisation of Services of Teachers and Re-organisation of Educational Institutions) Act, 2017.

Key details

The unified management rule for teachers, currently under preparation by the Assam Education Department, is designed to simplify various administrative procedures. While specific details of the new rule are still being finalised, the overarching goal is to create a singular, coherent framework for all teachers under the newly formed Department of School Education. This is expected to encompass aspects such as recruitment, postings, transfers, promotions, and other service-related matters, which were previously governed by separate regulations for elementary and secondary teachers. In a related development, the Assam government, in March 2026, relaxed certain provisions of the mutual transfer policy for school teachers. This modification allows newly appointed teachers to apply for mutual transfers and removes the previous restriction that barred teachers from seeking another transfer within two years. The revised provisions, implemented through an online teacher transfer portal, aim to enhance administrative convenience and provide teachers with locational advantages, thereby enabling them to deliver quality education more effectively. An amendment bill to the Assam Elementary and Secondary School Teachers (Regulation of Posting and Transfer) Act, 2020, was also introduced in November 2025, proposing to reduce the required service period in difficult or remote areas for male teachers to seven years (from ten) and for female teachers to five years for district transfers. These changes reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to create a more flexible and teacher-friendly administrative environment.

Reactions

Education Minister Ranoj Pegu has consistently articulated the government’s rationale behind these reforms, emphasising the need for streamlining and efficiency. During the Assembly session on July 23, 2026, while discussing school amalgamation, Minister Pegu stated,

“Education is a sector where the ruling party, the Opposition and every stakeholder must work together. The debate should not be about the validity of the law, but about how best to implement it,” Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said.

He further defended the school rationalisation policy, noting that the provision for amalgamating schools with fewer than 30 students was based on legislation enacted during a previous Congress government. While the merger of the Elementary and Secondary Education departments and the intent to unify teacher rules have been largely framed by the government as necessary for NEP compliance and administrative efficiency, past school merger policies have drawn criticism from various stakeholders. In September 2022, the Assam State Primary Teachers’ Association appealed to the government to reconsider its decision on merging 1,789 lower and upper primary schools, citing violations of merger norms, such as merging schools with over 300 students or those located at a distance. Ratul Chandra Goswami, secretary general of the association, said,

“The government had laid down some norms for merger/amalgamation of schools. However, when the decision was implemented, many of these norms were violated.”

Educationists and civil society groups have also expressed scepticism regarding the impact of school mergers on the quality of education and potential increases in dropout rates. However, government officials maintain that these mergers are for optimising resources and ensuring uninterrupted access to education within Right to Education (RTE) norms.

What’s next

The Assam Education Department is currently in the process of drafting the unified management rule for teachers. While no specific timeline for its finalisation and implementation has been announced, its preparation is a stated priority following the administrative merger of the Elementary and Secondary Education departments. Stakeholders, particularly teachers and their associations, will be closely watching for the release of these new rules to understand their full implications for service conditions and administrative processes. The government’s continued focus on educational reforms, including ongoing school rationalisation and the implementation of NEP 2020, suggests that further policy updates and directives are likely in the coming months.

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