A stark picture of deprivation in Assam’s interior schools emerged in the state assembly on Thursday, with the Education Minister reporting that nearly 1,400 institutions in char and rural belts continue to function without basic drinking water and toilet facilities, even as teaching vacancies run into several thousands.
Responding to a query from Congress MLA Wajed Ali Choudhury, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu told the House that “a total of 1,391 Lower Primary (LP) and Middle English (ME) schools presently do not have any functional drinking water or toilet facilities for the students in 'char' and rural areas.”
Providing a breakdown, Pegu said 347 schools have no drinking water facilities at all, while 809 lack toilets. He noted that “drinking water facilities in 134 schools and toilets in 101 schools are presently not functional.” Departments concerned have been tasked with restoring or installing the facilities, he informed.
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The shortage of teachers in these regions remains equally acute. Pegu stated that “a total of 27,936 posts of teachers are lying vacant in all schools in 'char' and rural areas.” Of these, 12,382 vacancies are in Middle English schools, 8,251 in Lower Primary institutions, and 7,303 in Upper Primary schools.
The minister informed the assembly that recruitment for 4,500 LP posts in general areas is underway, with document verification in progress. The Directorate of Secondary Education has also completed a recruitment drive to appoint 9,717 teachers, he added.
Educationists say the dual challenge of infrastructure gaps and faculty shortages has long undermined learning outcomes in Assam’s char regions—riverine pockets that often suffer from flooding, displacement and chronic underinvestment.
The government’s figures, placed on the floor of the House on Thursday, underline persistent inequalities affecting thousands of students who study in schools without the most essential amenities.
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