The Assam Legislative Assembly was informed that there are currently 2,670 single-teacher primary schools, over 13,000 schools without permanent headmasters, and numerous subject teacher vacancies throughout the state’s education system. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu reported that while no government primary schools will operate without teachers in the 2025-26 academic year, the existing data reveals significant staffing and infrastructure deficits. A total of 4,041 five-class schools has five or more teachers, while only 5,083 possess adequate classroom space. Among the 13,614 primary and 3,402 upper primary schools lacking permanent headmasters, vacancies for subject teachers are substantial, with 4,805 vacancies in upper primary schools and 7,396 in high schools. Furthermore, the UDISE+ data indicated a decline in the number of government schools from 52,228 in 2016-17 to 44,300 in 2024-25, largely due to a school merger policy. These figures underscore ongoing issues with staffing, leadership, and infrastructure within Assam’s educational framework.
