Guwahati: Enrolment in Assam’s govt schools fell by over 7 lakh between 2016-17 and 2025-26, the assembly was informed on Thursday.Education minister Ranoj Pegu, replying in writing to Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi, said enrolment from pre-primary to Class XII in govt and provincialised schools declined by 7,35,446. Private school enrolment rose by 9,40,566 during the same period.Provincialised schools are former non-govt institutions whose liabilities, including teachers’ salaries and benefits, were taken over by the state.The number of govt schools fell by 8,591, and their teacher strength declined by 15,326. Meanwhile, private institutions added 51,214 teachers.Assam currently has 3,031 single-teacher schools, 15,270 two-teacher schools and 8,115 three-teacher schools, according to the reply. Of the state-run schools, 676 lack electricity, 730 have no internet facilities and 12,353 have classrooms without fans.Replying separately to Congress MLA Nurul Huda on the appointment of headmasters and principals, Pegu said around 2,000 education department cases were pending in Gauhati high court .“Of which, 32 cases are related to the appointment of headmasters in ME schools and principals in the higher-secondary schools. However, govt is hopeful that the judgments in those cases will come out soon,” the minister added.
