School Education in Assam Char areas: A story of mass deprivation with only 102 high schools for 2251 Char villages

The number of high schools in char areas in Assam has reduced by over 53% over the past 23 years. The char areas with total population of 24.90 lakh (Socio Economic Survey of char areas 2002-03) have only 102 high schools now. In 2002-03, total number of high schools in char areas were 218. The state currently has total 3326 high schools.

Of these 102 high schools, 59 are located alone in Majuli island district while the rest 43 are located in seven districts. Char areas in six districts have no high schools, according to information furnished by the Assam Government in the Assam Assembly on February 20, 2025.

Number of High Schools in char areas in Dhubri district is 14, South Salmara Mankachar -10, Bongaigaon -7, and Barpeta-6, Goalpara-3, Nalbari-2 and Sonitpur-1

Except chars in Majuli and some chars in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Tinsukia majority population in char areas in the state belong to Muslims of erstwhile East Bengal origin.

The average Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) in high schools of char areas is 29.45 with total 26,355 students and 895 teachers. However, except in Majuli district where the PTR is 16.68, and Sonitpur district with PTR 16.4, the average PTR in high schools in rest six districts is high. It is 72.85 in Barpeta, 50.94 in Dhubri, 44.43 in Goalpara, 38.19 in South Salmara ManKachar district, 38.15 in Bongaigaon, and 37.77 in Nalbari.

The average PTR in high schools in the state is 22.

Altogether, 2251 char villages covering over 3.60 lakhs hectares of land are spread in 14 districts, according to the survey report. Updated population data is not available as the state government has not conducted any socio-economic survey of char areas since the last survey in 2002-03.

There are 2,027 Lower Primary schools, 334 Upper Primary schools, 22 Higher Secondary schools with arts stream and only 4 Higher Secondary schools with science stream. There are only three Junior Colleges with arts stream in char areas of Assam.

According to statistics, altogether 1,50,969 students enrolled in Lower Primary schools and 52,828 in Upper Primary schools.