What was announced
The Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam, issued an urgent instruction on June 11 and June 12, 2026, directing district authorities to identify and propose the merger of lower primary schools with fewer than 30 students. The directive specifies that such schools may be considered for amalgamation with nearby institutions, provided that the receiving schools possess adequate infrastructure and the proposal is deemed feasible. District authorities have been tasked with preparing and submitting detailed reports. These reports must include crucial data such as student strength, current teacher deployment, the distance from neighbouring schools, and other logistical considerations necessary before the consolidation process can proceed. The Directorate has underscored the urgency of the matter, describing it as “Top Most Urgent,” and has requested both hard and soft copies of the proposals, warning that any misinformation could lead to personal responsibility for the reporting officer.Why it matters
This rationalisation drive is critical for Assam’s education sector, which has witnessed a steady decline in student enrolment in many government schools, particularly in rural and remote areas. Officials attribute this trend to demographic shifts, migration, and an increasing preference among families for private educational institutions. Consequently, numerous schools continue to operate with minimal student populations despite having sanctioned teaching staff and infrastructure, leading to significant underutilisation of resources. The merger exercise is designed to improve the quality of education, foster better classroom learning environments, and ensure superior academic outcomes through a more efficient deployment of teachers and resources. Education Department officials have stressed that the process will be implemented without adversely affecting students, with careful consideration given to transportation and accessibility concerns to ensure uninterrupted access to education. This initiative aligns with Assam’s substantial investment in education; the state allocated 17.8 per cent of its total budget expenditure to the education sector in 2025-26, a figure notably higher than the national average of 15.0 per cent. The rationalisation aims to maximise the impact of this significant financial commitment.Background
The current directive is not an isolated measure but forms part of the Assam government’s ongoing efforts to reform and rationalise its school education system. Similar consolidation initiatives have been undertaken in previous years to address the issue of underutilised schools and improve institutional efficiency. Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 5,953 schools, encompassing lower primary, upper primary, high, and higher secondary institutions, were merged across the state. More recently, over the past five years leading up to December 2025, more than 2,900 government schools, specifically 2,774 elementary and 206 secondary schools, were merged under the state’s Shiksha Khetra Scheme. Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary clarified in the Lok Sabha in December 2025 that these were not “closures” but “mergers” aimed at optimising resources and improving educational outcomes, strictly adhering to the norms and guidelines of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had previously, in November 2021, directed the merger of lower primary (LP) and nearby middle English (ME) schools to curb student dropout rates during the transition between these educational stages. Furthermore, in September 2024, the state government merged the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) and the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) to form a unified Assam State School Education Board, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The rationalisation of teachers is another parallel ongoing process, with the Education Department utilising software to ensure an optimal Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR). Data from June 2024 revealed that out of 45,490 schools in Assam, 140 had zero enrolment, 35,511 had fewer than 50 students, and 3,074 were single-teacher schools. Additionally, as of March 2025, 2,340 out of 5,833 venture schools in the state had fewer than 30 students, highlighting the scale of the challenge. The concept of school mergers for efficiency is also observed in other Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand.Key details
The primary focus of the current directive is on elementary schools with enrolment below 30 students. The process mandates district authorities to conduct a thorough assessment of these schools, considering factors such as existing student numbers, teacher deployment, and the proximity to other educational institutions. Crucially, the decision to merge will also hinge on the availability of adequate infrastructure in the prospective receiving schools. The government has affirmed that the merger process will be implemented with due consideration for accessibility and transportation to ensure that no student is deprived of education. This approach is in strict compliance with the Right to Education Act, 2009, which mandates accessible schooling for all children.Reactions
The Assam government’s school merger policies have drawn mixed reactions from various stakeholders. Opposition parties have previously criticised such drives, alleging that they represent an attempt to privatise education and could undermine mother tongue instruction. The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) has voiced opposition to elementary school mergers, citing the strong public attachment to many institutions that were established on land and with funds donated by local communities.Educationists and civil society groups have expressed scepticism, raising concerns about the potential impact on the quality of education and a possible increase in dropout rates.“Instead of shutting down schools, they should find out the reason behind the bad results and poor enrolment,” AASU president Dipanka Nath said.
Dinesh Baishya, former principal of B Borooah College, alleged that schools were compelled to close without adequate consultation with stakeholders and suggested that well-performing government schools might be perceived as hindering the growth of private institutions. In contrast, government officials maintain that these mergers are essential for improving educational quality, optimising teacher utilisation, and effectively addressing dwindling enrolment numbers. Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu has previously invited objections to amalgamations and established a committee to review petitions related to mergers. Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary has reiterated in the Lok Sabha that no student has been deprived of education as a result of these mergers, with schooling remaining accessible within prescribed distance norms.“The government can’t just blame the teachers, students or parents. It is the government which is responsible,” Indranee Dutta, a former member of the governing board of the state’s Board of Secondary Education, said.