On Wednesday, Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona announced that the state government has closed approximately 600 schools due to non-functionality or zero student enrollment. This decision was made in response to a query from lone Congress MLA Kumar Waii during the assembly session.
Key Points from the Announcement:
- School Closures:
- Number of Schools Closed: Around 600 schools have either been shut down or merged with other institutions.
- Reason for Closure: Schools were identified as non-functional or had zero enrollment, indicating inefficiencies in the education system.
- Future Plans:
- Additional Closures: The government is considering closing more schools with similarly low or zero enrollment.
- Current Educational Landscape:
- Total Schools: Arunachal Pradesh has over 2,800 government-run schools, including lower primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels.
- Teaching Staff: The state employs more than 7,600 regular teachers.
- Addressing Teacher Shortages:
- Temporary Measures: The shortage of teachers is being managed through stop-gap appointments under the Mukhya Mantri Shiksha Kosh (MMSK).
- Future Recruitment: The government has requested the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) to conduct recruitment exams for filling teaching positions.
This initiative reflects the state’s commitment to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of its education system by consolidating resources and addressing staffing challenges.
