ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Mar 12: In response to a query raised by Congress MLA Kumar Waii from Bameng Constituency during the ongoing Budget Session, the Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister disclosed that a total of 734 schools in the state have either been closed or merged following a district-wide evaluation of their conditions. The move comes as part of the government’s efforts to optimize resources and improve the efficiency of the education system.
The minister’s written reply revealed that 398 schools were closed under an order issued on October 12, 2021, due to zero student enrollment. Additionally, 336 schools were merged through an order dated July 27, 2022, as they had very low enrollment. Among the affected institutions, 700 were Government Primary Schools (GPS), 33 were Government Upper Primary Schools (GUPS), and one was a Government Residential School (GRS). The closures and mergers are part of a broader strategy to ensure better utilization of government resources and provide quality education to students.
Despite these changes, a total of 2,806 schools remain operational in Arunachal Pradesh. These include various categories of government-run institutions, ranging from primary and upper primary schools to secondary and higher secondary schools. The Education Department has also indicated that additional school mergers may be carried out in the future to further streamline the education system and enhance learning outcomes.
On query related to any proposal for new infrastructures to these retained schools, the Minister responded that, in a bid to strengthen the infrastructure of the retained schools, the government has announced significant financial allocations for both secondary and elementary education. The Department of Education, and the Planning Department has released a total amount of Rs.40536.32 lakh i.e. Rs.962.00 lakh in BE 2024-25, Rs.15000.00 lakh in Budget Announcement, Rs. 24574.32 lakh in SASCI 2024-25 (Under Secondary Education). A total amount of Rs. 9660.58 lakh i.e. Rs. 4810.58 lakh in BE 2024-25, Rs.3400.00 lakh in Budget Announcement, Rs.1450.00 lakh in SASCI 2024-25(Under Elementary Education).

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List