Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
A significant infrastructure shortfall has been revealed in government schools across Assam, particularly in the rural and ‘char’ (river island) regions. During a state assembly session on Thursday, it was disclosed that approximately 1,400 primary and middle schools are lacking adequate drinking water and toilet facilities for students.
Assam’s Education Minister Ranoj Pegu provided detailed information regarding the dire conditions at these schools. He noted that:
- 347 schools completely lack drinking water facilities
- 809 schools are devoid of any toilet amenities
- 134 schools have non-functional drinking water systems
- 101 schools feature toilets that are not operational
The minister pledged that improvements to basic amenities are underway, yet these shortages continue to pose a significant challenge for students relying on government schools in remote areas.
In addition to infrastructure woes, the minister also addressed a severe shortage of teachers. Across all government schools in both ‘char’ and rural areas, there are 27,936 unfilled teaching positions. This includes:
- 12,382 vacancies in Middle English (ME) schools
- 8,251 vacancies in Lower Primary (LP) schools
- 7,303 vacancies in Upper Primary (UP) schools
Recruitment efforts for some roles underway. Document verification for 4,500 LP teacher positions in general areas is currently taking place. The Secondary Education Directorate has also initiated recruitment to fill 9,717 teacher positions in the state.
This data underscores the critical need for enhanced facilities and additional teaching staff to ensure quality education for students in Assam's most underserved communities.
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