The Assam Christian Forums (ACF), representing Christian communities and their rights across the state, today expressed profound alarm at the Assam Cabinet’s approval of the Assam Private Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Amendment Bill, 2025. This proposed law, set for tabling in the Assembly on November 25, would strip away long-standing protections for minority-run schools, by allowing unchecked government control over their fee structures.In simple terms, the Bill ends the previous hands-off approach for minority schools and hands the state sweeping powers to fix fees, monitor collections, and intervene at will. For Christian missionary institutions – which have been pillars of education in Assam for over a century – this feels like a direct attack on their freedom to run schools in line with their values and needs. “We are pained and feel intimidated” said Archbishop John Moolachira Chairman of ACF. “These schools are not businesses; they are Nation builders, our community’s heartbeat, preserving our identity, language, and culture through education. Now, the government wants to decide how we fund them, which could force many to close or lose what makes them special.”
The fears run deep, given the earlier passing of the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Act, 2024 (Assam Act No.VIII of 2024), where Christians are targeted. Without the ability to set reasonable fees, these schools may struggle to pay teachers, maintain facilities, or offer scholarships to poor students – many from tribal and remote areas. This could dilute the unique Christian ethos that has defined them, violating the sacred promise in Article 30(1) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees minorities, both Religious and Linguistic right to establish and manage their own educational institutions. ACF worries this is the start of more interference, threatening the very survival of minority education in a diverse state like Assam.
Yet amid these apprehensions, ACF reminds everyone of the unmatched contributions of missionary schools since before India’s independence. Long before government systems took root, Christian missionaries arrived in Assam in the 19th century, braving jungles and hardships to light the flame of learning. They built the first schools and pioneered modern education, boosting literacy rates from near zero to over 70% today. They educated leaders, farmers, and dreamers alike, especially uplifting women, tribals, and the underprivileged, helped protecting many Tribal languages, including Assamese – all while fostering interfaith harmony.”These schools didn’t wait for permissions; they created opportunities where none existed,” added Rev.Bernard K Marak, Vice Chairman ACF and Gen Secy Assam Baptist Convention. “From pre-Independence days, when Assam was a forgotten corner of British India, missionaries planted seeds of knowledge that grew into the state’s proud educational tree. To now handcuff them with rigid rules feels like forgetting history and betraying the Constitution’s spirit.”ACF urges the Assam government to pause and rethink this Bill. “Amend it to respect minority rights – include our voices in any oversight body and protect our autonomy,” Archbishop John Moolachira appealed. “Let’s build on our shared legacy, not tear it down. Education unites us; let’s keep it that way.”The Assam Christian Forums calls on all citizens, leaders, and media to stand with minority institutions. Together, we can ensure Assam’s schools remain beacons of hope for generations to come.