In a significant restructuring of Assam’s public education network, more than 2,900 government schools have been merged with nearby institutions over the last five years — a step the Centre says is aimed at strengthening the system rather than shutting down facilities.

The clarification came on December 1 from Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary in response to a question in the Lok Sabha regarding reported school closures in the state. Chaudhary stated that 2,774 elementary and 206 secondary schools had been merged or amalgamated, but stressed that not a single government or provincialised school had been shut down.

The exercise, he said, has been carried out under Assam’s Shiksha Khetra Scheme, focusing primarily on schools with low enrolment, institutions located within the same premises, or setups where consolidation would improve administrative and academic efficiency.

“The rationalisation ensures optimal use of teachers and infrastructure while reducing student dropouts,” Chaudhary noted, reiterating that school access remains fully compliant with Right to Education Act norms — including distance-based eligibility for primary and upper-primary students.

Officials assert that the restructuring is designed to strengthen the system and avoid duplication of resources, not to dismantle access. “No student has been deprived of education, and schooling remains within the prescribed access radius,” Chaudhary said.

The move marks one of the largest public school system consolidations in the country and reflects Assam’s broader push to stabilise enrolment trends, streamline operations, and bolster learning outcomes — without compromising the availability of education.