Government school enrolment in Assam has fallen sharply over the past nine years, according to figures presented in the Assam Assembly by minister Ranoj Pegu. The data showed that student numbers in state-run schools dropped by 7.35 lakh from the 2016-17 academic year onward.
During the same period, private schools in the state saw a major increase in enrolment, adding 9.4 lakh students. The contrast points to a significant shift in where families are choosing to send children for schooling in Assam.
The Assembly was also informed that the number of government schools and teachers has declined. Along with the drop in student enrolment, this suggests broader structural changes in the state’s public education system over the period under review.
The latest figures are likely to add to the debate over the condition of government schools in Assam, especially as private institutions continue to expand their reach. The enrolment trend highlighted in the Assembly underscores growing pressure on policymakers to assess the future of public schooling in the state.
