Ziro: A significant number of government schools in Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh are on the brink of closure due to low enrollment.
Education Minister PD Sona, during a recent visit, revealed that 36 schools have already been shut down, and another 11 are proposed for closure.
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He said that of the 72 government schools in the district, 36 have been closed and an additional 11 have been proposed for closure, leaving only 25 functional schools in the district.
The minister cited the issue of low enrollment and high pupil-teacher ratios as major concerns. He emphasized the need to consolidate schools and allocate resources more effectively.
Sona proposed the closure and merger of several schools, including those in Hong, Hari, and Tajang villages.
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However, local stakeholders requested a week’s time to review the proposed closures.
In addition to school closures, the meeting addressed other educational challenges. The Deputy Commissioner of Lower Subansiri sought assistance to operationalize the district’s polytechnic college.
He also proposed introducing the Apatani language as a third language in private schools.
MLA Mutchu Mithi expressed optimism about Ziro’s potential to become an educational hub. He supported the consolidation of educational institutions to optimize resource utilization.
Minister Sona also held a similar meeting in Kra Daadi district, discussing strategies to improve the quality of education and address challenges faced by schools there.