Itanagar: In a significant boost to the education sector, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday virtually inaugurated infrastructure projects worth Rs. 750 crore aimed at transforming educational facilities across the state.
The projects, spearheaded by the Rural Works Department (RWD), are set to be completed within the current financial year and are part of the state government’s broader push under the Shikshit Arunachal 2029 mission to elevate education standards and accessibility.
A key focus of the investment is the comprehensive upgrade of 39 government higher secondary schools across various districts.
Funded under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, this component alone accounts for Rs. 300 crore.
In addition, Rs. 322 crore has been allocated for the construction of 156 hostels and residential quarters for teachers, ensuring better living and learning environments throughout the state.
Further bolstering the residential infrastructure, the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) will see the creation of 14 modern hostels with a capacity of 120 beds each, costing Rs. 71.4 crore. Another Rs. 9 crore is earmarked for building 60 bachelor barracks in rural schools, supporting teachers stationed in remote areas.
Higher education is also getting a share of the pie, with Rs. 30 crore designated for infrastructure development at Arunachal University in Pasighat (East Siang).
Moreover, Rs. 23.64 crore will fund the construction of 394 kitchen shed-cum-store units under the PM Poshan scheme to improve nutrition services in schools.
“This comprehensive investment reflects our firm commitment to transforming Arunachal’s education landscape through the Shikshit Arunachal 2029 Mission,” said CM Khandu during the virtual foundation-laying ceremony.
He underscored the mission’s dual approach: upgrading physical infrastructure and introducing impactful policy reforms to modernize the state’s education system.
In a decisive move toward quality enhancement, the chief minister announced that non-functional schools—particularly those with zero student attendance—will be phased out.
These will be replaced with inter-village model schools that consolidate resources and offer better learning outcomes.
“For years, we chased numbers and neglected quality. With this mission, we aim to set a new benchmark for education in Arunachal by 2029,” Khandu concluded.
