Yingkiong: Arunachal Pradesh’s Education Minister, Pasang Dorjee Sona, has proposed merging state-run schools with low enrollment to address challenges in the public education sector. During his visit to Yingkiong, the headquarters of Upper Siang district, Sona outlined a strategic plan that prioritizes infrastructure availability, land, and accessibility to essential amenities for the merging of schools.
“Our vision is to provide quality education to every child from the elementary level by combining and merging primary schools. This will help enhance infrastructure, improve human resources, and implement other necessary interventions,” stated Sona on Friday.
The proposal stems from insights gained during a three-day ‘Chintan Shivir’ held by the Education Department in August, where stakeholders deliberated on strategies to ensure quality education across the state. The Minister emphasized the need for community engagement, aiming to gather ideas for the seamless implementation of educational programs.
“We need to pursue the merging of schools as a mission for a brighter future for our students,” Sona remarked, highlighting the shift from quantity to quality in the education system.
Mutchu Mithi, Advisor to the Education Minister, echoed the emphasis on improving educational standards rather than merely increasing the number of schools. Meanwhile, Duhon Tekseng, Deputy Director of School Education for Upper Siang, advocated for additional teachers, the introduction of a science stream at Mariyang Government Higher Secondary School, and the renovation of existing schools and teachers’ quarters.
During a previous assembly session in July, Sona disclosed that over 600 schools had been closed or merged in the state. Currently, Arunachal Pradesh has more than 2,800 government-run schools at various levels, employing over 7,600 regular teachers and more than 5,900 under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan program. Despite these numbers, the state faces a shortage of 414 trained graduate teachers and 186 postgraduate teachers, particularly in Maths and Science, according to officials.
The initiative to merge schools is expected to optimize resources and enhance educational quality, paving the way for a more robust education system in Arunachal Pradesh.
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