The Assam state assembly was informed that more than 30,000 teacher positions remain unfilled across various educational institutions. This announcement was made on July 10, 2026, during discussions led by School Education Minister Ranoj Pegu in response to a question posed by Leader of Opposition Wajed Ali Choudhury. The minister reported that approximately 20 per cent of the 1.54 lakh permanent teaching posts in schools throughout Assam are currently vacant.

According to Pegu’s statement, there are a total of 30,032 sanctioned teaching posts that remain unoccupied at present. The breakdown shows that there are 18,801 vacancies in primary schools, comprising 11,662 in lower primary schools and 7,139 in upper primary schools. In secondary and higher secondary institutions, there are an additional 11,231 unfilled teaching positions.

Government’s Approach to Filling Vacancies

In addressing the high number of vacancies, Minister Pegu outlined the Assam government’s recruitment strategy aimed at employing two lakh individuals in various government roles. He assured assembly members that efforts are underway to generate lists of available positions within schools to facilitate the hiring process.

Pegu expressed confidence that these vacant posts would be filled in the near future, indicating an active commitment from the government to address the staffing shortfall in educational institutions. The minister’s remarks reflected a proactive stance in tackling the issue of teacher shortages.

In response to further inquiries from Congress MLA Asif Mohammad Nazar, Pegu disclosed that Assam is home to 44,103 state-run schools, which include 39,531 primary institutions. He highlighted that a significant number of these schools, approximately 7,948, do not adhere to the recommended 30:1 pupil-teacher ratio, raising concerns about educational standards.

Challenges in Educational Administration

The issue of schools operating with a single teacher was also raised during the session by AIUDF MLA Badruddin Ajmal. He pointed out that this staffing model has contributed to declining student enrolment in recent years. Minister Pegu acknowledged the challenge presented by single-teacher schools, labelling it a significant concern for the state’s education system.

In his response, Pegu stated that the Assam government is striving to eliminate the prevalence of single-teacher schools. He asserted that, despite these challenges, the pupil-teacher ratio in Assam remains favourable compared to the national perspective, indicating a relatively positive stance on the overall educational framework.

The state government has been employing a multifaceted strategy to optimise teacher deployment. This approach encompasses regular recruitment, intra-district rationalisation, and the merger-amalgamation of schools. These initiatives aim to enhance the educational environment by increasing the availability of teachers in schools across Assam, thereby improving educational outcomes for students.

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