More than 2,900 government schools in Assam have been merged or amalgamated with nearby institutions over the last five years as part of the state’s school rationalisation drive. The move, aimed at improving education quality and optimising resources, has affected primary, middle and secondary schools across several districts of the state.

For some families, it means better facilities at a larger school, while for others, it brings new challenges like longer commutes for children. Over the last few years, Assam’s education system has seen rapid restructuring, and this particular decision has sparked both appreciation and concern. Understanding why these mergers happened and what they mean for the future of education in the state is important for anyone connected to Assam’s school system.

Why Were Government Schools Merged in Assam?

The Assam government has stated that the merger of schools was mainly done to address issues such as low student strength, poor infrastructure, and shortage of teachers in many government schools. In several villages and semi-urban areas, schools were functioning with very few students, sometimes even with single-digit enrolment.

By merging such schools with nearby ones, the government aims to:

• Improve student-teacher ratio
• Ensure better utilisation of teaching staff
• Provide access to improved infrastructure
• Reduce administrative and operational costs
• Strengthen overall academic performance

Officials have repeatedly said that the goal is not to reduce access to education, but to improve its quality.

How Many Schools Were Affected and Where?

According to official data shared in the Assam Assembly, over 2,900 government schools were either merged or amalgamated in the last five years. These included lower primary, upper primary and a few secondary schools.

Most of these mergers were carried out in rural and tea garden areas where population movement, declining enrolment and migration had affected school strength. In many cases, students were shifted to nearby schools located within a few kilometres.

The government has maintained that no child was left without schooling and that alternative arrangements were made before shutting down any school.

Impact on Students and Parents

The impact of these mergers has been mixed and largely depends on location and connectivity.

For some students, the shift has been positive. They now have access to:

• Better classrooms and buildings
• More teachers for different subjects
• Libraries, labs and playgrounds
• Improved midday meal facilities

However, in remote areas, parents have raised concerns about increased travel distance. Younger children, especially at the primary level, now often need to walk longer or depend on transport, which adds to daily खर्च and safety worries.

In my interaction with a few parents from rural Assam during a school awareness programme, many said they welcomed better facilities but wished transport support was also provided for small children.

What Do Teachers and Education Experts Say?

Teachers have shared mixed reactions to the merger policy. While some feel that academic coordination has improved due to better staff strength at merged schools, others point to issues like overcrowded classrooms and adjustment difficulties for transferred students.

Education experts believe that mergers can work well only if supported by:

• Safe and affordable transport for students
• Adequate classroom space in the receiving schools
• Proper counselling for students during transition
• Timely posting of teachers in merged institutions

Without these, the policy may cause learning gaps, especially among younger children.

Government’s Stand on the School Merger Drive

The Assam government has defended its decision, saying that school merging is a long-term reform to strengthen public education. Authorities have also mentioned that funds saved from running under-enrolled schools are being redirected towards upgrading infrastructure and learning resources in functional schools.

Officials have also assured that the process is being monitored and corrective measures will be taken wherever genuine hardship is reported.