Guwahati | Student enrolment in Assam’s government and provincialised schools has declined by more than 7.35 lakh over the past nine years, while private schools have witnessed a sharp increase of nearly 9.41 lakh students during the same period, according to data tabled in the Assam Assembly.

The figures were shared by Education Minister Ranoj Pegu in a written reply to a question raised by Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi during the ongoing Budget Session.

According to the minister, enrolment in government and provincialised schools, from pre-primary to Class XII, fell by 7,35,446 students between the 2016-17 and 2025-26 academic years. In contrast, private educational institutions recorded an increase of 9,40,566 students, reflecting a significant shift in parental preference towards private schooling.

The Assembly was also informed that the number of government schools in Assam has declined by 8,591 over the last nine years. Teacher strength has also undergone a marked change during the period. Government schools lost 15,326 teachers, while private institutions added 51,214 teachers, underscoring the growing expansion of the private education sector.

Providing an update on staffing patterns in government schools, Pegu said the state currently has 3,031 single-teacher schools, 15,270 schools with two teachers, and 8,115 schools with three teachers, highlighting the continued challenge of ensuring adequate teaching staff in many institutions.

The minister further pointed to infrastructure deficiencies that persist in several government schools across the state.

According to the data presented in the Assembly:

”               676 government schools are yet to receive electricity connections.

”               730 schools do not have internet facilities.

”               12,353 government schools continue to operate without ceiling fans in classrooms, affecting students during periods of extreme heat.

The data paints a picture of a changing educational landscape in Assam, with rising enrolment in private institutions coinciding with declining student numbers and teacher strength in the government school system.

The issue is expected to draw renewed attention to the quality of public education, infrastructure development, teacher deployment and measures needed to strengthen government schools as the state seeks to improve learning outcomes and retain student enrolment.