Arunachal Pradesh Closes 600 Non-Functioning Schools

Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona announced the closure of around 600 non-functional schools in the state. Responding to Congress MLA Kumar Waii, Sona revealed plans to shut more schools with low or zero enrolment. The state manages teacher shortages via stop-gap arrangements and has requested APPSC for teacher recruitment exams.

On Wednesday, Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona announced that the state government has closed around 600 schools that were either non-functional or had zero enrolment.

Addressing a question from lone Congress MLA Kumar Waii in the assembly, Minister Sona revealed plans to shut down additional schools with low or zero enrolment rates.

Nearly 600 such schools have already been closed or merged with other functional schools. Arunachal Pradesh has over 2,800 government-run educational institutions at various levels, staffed by more than 7,600 regular teachers.

Sona also mentioned that the shortage of teachers is currently being managed by appointing teachers on a stop-gap basis under the Mukhya Mantri Shiksha Kosh (MMSK). The government has requested the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) to conduct recruitment exams for teachers to address this issue in the long term.

(With inputs from agencies.)