Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh government has ordered the closure of 386 government schools across the state that have recorded zero student enrolment in the current academic year.
The state’s Education Department issued an order Monday after its analysis of Unified District Information System for Education data revealed a significant number of schools had been non-functional, some for several years.
The decision seeks to streamline educational infrastructure and ensure more efficient use of teaching staff and facilities.
The list includes primary, upper primary, middle, and secondary government schools that have had no student enrolment this year and, in some instances, for multiple academic sessions.
According to the official notification, West Kameng district reported the highest number of closures, with 73 schools shut down.
Other districts with significant numbers include Papum Pare with 50 closures, West Siang with 31, Upper Subansiri and Siang with 28 each, and East Kameng with 23. Several other districts also saw closures ranging from one to 22 schools.
Education department officials noted that the move aligns with the National Education Policy 2020’s goals, which advocate for efficient school infrastructure management and prioritize quality over quantity.
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The department has instructed all deputy directors of school education and block education officers to ensure the immediate physical closure of the listed schools and begin the redeployment of teaching and non-teaching staff wherever necessary.
Last year, the Arunachal Pradesh government also closed 600 schools, which were either non-functional or had zero enrolment.
