Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh government has ordered the closure of 386 government schools across the State that have recorded zero student enrolment in the current academic year.
The directive, issued by the State’s Education Department on Monday, June 2, follows an extensive review of data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE). The analysis revealed a large number of government schools, some inactive for several years, with no student enrolment.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Officials said the closures are part of a broader rationalisation strategy aimed at optimising resources, improving learning outcomes, and ensuring efficient use of teaching staff and facilities.
Schools affected by the move span nearly every district, including remote and border areas such as Kurung Kumey, Tawang, Anjaw, Changlang, and Upper Subansiri.
The list includes institutions at all levels primary, upper primary, middle, and secondary that have not registered a single student this year, with many reportedly non-operational for multiple academic sessions.
West Kameng district saw the highest number of closures, with 73 schools shut down. Other major closures occurred in Papum Pare (50 schools), West Siang (31), Upper Subansiri and Siang (28 each), and East Kameng (23). Several other districts reported closures ranging from one to 22 schools.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Education Department officials explained that this rationalisation aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which prioritises the quality of education and efficient management of school infrastructure. By closing inactive institutions, the government plans to reassign teachers and staff to functional schools that are in need of additional resources.
All Deputy Directors of School Education (DDSEs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) have been directed to oversee the immediate physical closure of the identified schools and manage the redeployment of both teaching and non-teaching staff.
In cases where students may have recently migrated to these now-closed schools, arrangements will be made to ensure their transfer to nearby functioning institutions to prevent any disruption in their education.
This marks the second major phase of school closures in Arunachal Pradesh. Last year, the government shut down around 600 government schools that were either non-functional or had zero enrolment. State Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona had informed the Assembly that these schools had either been closed or merged with others as part of ongoing reforms.
Arunachal Pradesh currently has over 2,800 government-run schools, staffed by more than 7,600 regular teachers.