Assam govt school enrolment has witnessed a significant decline over the past nine years, highlighting a major shift in the state’s education landscape. Data presented in the Assam Legislative Assembly revealed that government and provincialised schools have lost over 7.35 lakh students between the 2016-17 and 2025-26 academic years, while private schools gained nearly 9.41 lakh students during the same period. The figures have raised concerns over the changing preferences of parents and the challenges facing public education in Assam.
Assam govt school enrolment sees major decline
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, responding to a question from Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi in the Assembly, stated that enrolment in government and provincialised schools from pre-primary to Class 12 fell by 7,35,446 students over nine academic years.
In contrast, private schools recorded an increase of 9,40,566 students, indicating a steady migration of students from public institutions to private educational establishments. The data reflects changing parental preferences, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas, where private schools are increasingly viewed as offering better academic opportunities and infrastructure.
Why are students shifting to private schools?
While the Assembly discussion did not provide a single reason for the decline, several factors appear to be contributing to the trend.
Parents have increasingly opted for private schools due to expectations of improved English-medium education, stronger academic performance, better discipline, and enhanced extracurricular opportunities. Rising household incomes in some regions have also enabled more families to choose private education.
At the same time, the state government has acknowledged demographic changes and population trends as factors influencing enrolment in government schools. Education experts also point to migration, urbanisation, and changing aspirations among parents as reasons behind the shift.
Challenges facing government schools
The Assembly data highlighted several structural issues affecting public education.
During the same nine-year period:
- The number of government schools declined by 8,591.
- Government schools recorded a reduction of 15,326 teachers.
- Private schools added 51,214 teachers.
- Assam currently has 3,031 single-teacher schools.
- Another 15,270 schools operate with only two teachers.
- Around 8,115 schools have just three teachers.
Infrastructure gaps also remain a concern. According to the minister, 676 government schools still do not have electricity connections, while 730 schools lack internet access. Additionally, more than 12,353 state-run schools do not have classroom fans, affecting learning conditions, particularly during the hot summer months.
Government initiatives to improve Assam govt school enrolment
Despite the declining numbers, the Assam government says it is taking steps to improve the quality of public education.
The state has invested in upgrading school infrastructure, recruiting regular teachers, and rationalising schools with very low enrolment to make better use of available resources. Officials believe these measures will strengthen learning outcomes and gradually restore confidence in government schools.
The government has also focused on digital education, classroom improvements, and teacher appointments in recent years, although officials acknowledge that further investment is needed to bridge existing gaps.
Wider education trends in Assam
The enrolment figures come at a time when Assam has reported improvements in certain educational indicators. Earlier UDISE+ data showed declines in dropout rates and improvements in student retention and transition rates across several education levels.
However, falling gross enrolment at the primary and elementary stages, coupled with infrastructure shortages, indicates that retaining students within the government school system remains a major challenge. The latest Assembly data reinforces concerns that more families continue to move toward private education despite improvements in some educational outcomes.
What the latest figures mean
The sharp fall in government school enrolment reflects a changing educational landscape in Assam. While private institutions continue expanding, public schools face the dual challenge of declining student numbers and infrastructure constraints.
Education policy experts believe reversing the trend will require sustained investments in school facilities, teacher availability, technology, and classroom quality. Improving learning outcomes and restoring public confidence will likely be central to increasing enrolment in government schools over the coming years.
The Assembly figures serve as an important indicator of the state’s education system and may shape future policy decisions aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality education for students across Assam.
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