Under the leadership of Chief Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, significant strides have been made in the educational sector, laying a strong foundation for the state’s future. A groundbreaking initiative, the establishment of Tea Garden Model Schools, marks a historic moment for tea garden communities. Additionally, the inauguration of Model Colleges and new Engineering Colleges demonstrates the state’s commitment to expanding access to quality education. The upgrade of existing colleges to universities, along with a proposal for a new State University in Gohpur named after Swahid Kanaklata Barua, reflects a determination to enhance educational infrastructure and provide higher learning opportunities.
The state’s educational landscape has also transformed through mentorship programs and support systems that empower young talent. The state aims to nurture a generation prepared for the future by offering essential resources. This emphasis on mentorship highlights the Government’s dedication to fostering academic growth and success.
Key welfare initiatives further support academic excellence, ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to excel. These efforts reduce disparities, promote inclusivity, and improve education quality, empowering students to reach their full potential and contributing to a progressive educational system.
Chief Minister’s Special Scheme for Awarding Bicycles: The Chief Minister’s Special Scheme aims to provide bicycles to Class IX students in Government and privatised schools, facilitating easier daily commutes and improving access to education. For the academic year 2023-24, the scheme benefitted 3,69,454 students, comprising 1,60,612 male and 2,08,842 female students. Each bicycle is valued at Rs 4,356, with the state government allocating Rs 161 crore for this initiative.
In the year 2024-25, the scheme will cover 3,23,640 students. To support this, the Government has approved a financial sanction of Rs 148.55 crore, which will fully fund the cost of the bicycles for the upcoming year.
AROHAN-Mentor-Mentee Programme: The AROHAN-Mentor-Mentee Programme is a flagship initiative by the State Government designed to support meritorious students in Classes IX to XII. Through personalised mentoring and counselling, the program offers talented students guidance for career advancement, exposure to various opportunities, and incentives, both in cash and in kind.
As of now, a total of 9,700 mentors and 8,604 mentees have registered for the program. In the 2022-23 academic year, 8,664 students from grades IX and X participated, guided by 9,756 mentors. Of these, 4,325 students were part of the summative assessment and are currently continuing their studies in grade X.
Anundoram Borooah Award: The Anundoram Borooah Award, instituted by the State Government, recognises students who achieve 75 per cent marks and above in the HSLC Examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam. Recipients are awarded a cash prize and a laptop to recognise their academic excellence.
In 2023, 27,183 meritorious students were honoured with a cash award of Rs 15,000 each. From 2005 to 2022, 4,13,400 students received either a Desktop/Laptop or a Cash Award. For the academic year 2024-25, 26,978 students are set to receive the Rs 15,000 award.
Mukhya Mantrir Vigyan Pratibha Sandhan” initiative: The “Mukhya Mantrir Vigyan Pratibha Sandhan” initiative, launched by the Science, Technology, and Climate Change Department of the Government of Assam, aims to nurture young scientific talents among Class XI Science students. The program follows a meticulous selection process and offers personalised mentoring based on students’ interests. It starts with a Residential Fellowship Camp at IIT Guwahati, followed by exposure visits to prestigious institutions in India and abroad. In the first phase, students are mentored at IIT Guwahati. The second phase includes a five-day camp in Bengaluru, where participants visit renowned institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), and various IT centres. In the final stage, five students are selected to visit a prominent university or research institute abroad for advanced exposure. For the 2023-24 session, 200 Class XI Science students were selected to participate in this prestigious program, and the 2024-25 batch is currently undergoing advanced exposure at top academic institutes.
Dr. Bani Kanta Kakati Award: The Dr. Bani Kanta Kakati Award, part of the Pragyan Bharati scheme, recognises the academic achievements of students in Assam, offering support for further education. Female students securing a first division and male students achieving 75 per cent or more in the Assam Higher Secondary Examination are eligible for the award, which includes scooters to assist with their commute. In the 2023-24 financial year, 35,770 students benefited, including 30,203 girls and 5,567 boys. For 2024-25, the Assam government allocated Rs 345.74 crore for the award. The document verification process was temporarily suspended but resumed on January 20, 2025.
Fee Waivers: In recent years, fee waiver programs have been introduced to ease UG and PG students’ financial challenges. These programs include book grants for UG students, admission fee grants, mess dues coverage, and mobility grants for UG and PG students. Over the past three years—2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24—approximately 17.19 lakh students have benefited, with ₹500 crore allocated to support them. These initiatives have significantly reduced financial burdens, enabling students to focus on academic success and pursue higher education with fewer stressors.
Enhancing Education for a Brighter Future: In the past few years, the State Government has placed education at the forefront of its developmental agenda, focusing on creating an environment that fosters quality learning. By investing in educational infrastructure, launching new institutions, and ensuring rigorous assessments through the Gunotsav Programme, the Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to educational excellence. Here are some key initiatives that highlight this dedication:
Model Schools in Tea Garden Areas and Upgradation of Existing Institutions: To bring transformative changes to school education, the Government of Assam has introduced 118 Model Schools in Tea Garden regions to provide access to high-quality education. Furthermore, 224 High Schools have been upgraded, and 67 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) have been raised to Higher Secondary Schools. These initiatives are designed to improve educational opportunities in both urban and rural regions.
Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan: Establishing the Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan has been crucial in expanding quality education. With 56 CBSE-affiliated schools now operational in educationally disadvantaged areas of Assam, this initiative ensures that students from even the most remote parts of the state have access to world-class education.
Together, these efforts form the foundation of a brighter, more inclusive future for Assam’s students, empowering them with the skills and knowledge needed for success.
Expansion of Technical Education: Seven new government model colleges have been established, creating 126 teaching positions and appointing 133 teaching staff and 557 non-teaching staff. These colleges, located in Balipara (Sonitpur), Samaguri (Nagaon), Baksa, Diblong (Dima Hasao), Baghbar (Barpeta), Chenga (Barpeta), and Bilasipara (Dhubri), aim to enhance accessibility to higher education.
In technical education, six new engineering colleges are under construction in Bongaigaon, Behali, and Sualkuchi under the NIDA scheme, and in Nalbari, Nagaon, and Udalguri under RUSA. Additionally, eight new polytechnic institutes are being set up in locations such as Hajo, Majuli, Tingkhong, Darrang, Karbi-Anglong, Nagaon, Dhubri, and Dima Hasao, expanding technical education to remote areas.
The state government has made significant strides in enhancing higher education by upgrading several colleges into universities. Institutions like Sibsagar College, Kokrajhar Government College, Jagannath Barooah College in Jorhat, North Lakhimpur College, Nagaon College, Gurucharan College in Silchar, and Bongaigaon College have been upgraded, enabling them to offer a wider range of academic programs and cater to the growing student population. Additionally, a new State University, Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University, is in the advanced stages of development in Gohpur, further expanding opportunities for higher education in the region.
Establishing the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) Guwahati campus will add to this progress, accommodating over 3,000 students, including international ones. The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) also celebrated the inauguration of its permanent campus on January 12, 2024, enhancing specialised education in pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, a Yoga and Naturopathy Centre is being set up in Dibrugarh with a Rs 100 Cr investment, offering programs in alternative health sciences by 2026.
In school education, the Gunotsav program aims to improve the quality of education by assessing schools across four key areas: Scholastic, Co-scholastic, Infrastructure, and Community Participation. Launched in 2017, the initiative has involved evaluations by external assessors, including government officials, and has been implemented in various schools to ensure educational excellence.
Comparison of School Grades in Gunotsav Evaluation (2017 vs. 2024)
- A+ Grade: In 2017, 6,037 schools received an A+ grade. This number significantly increased in 2024, with 11,592 schools achieving an A+ rating.
- A Grade: The number of schools placed in the A grade grew from 12,927 in 2017 to 14,933 in 2024, reflecting improved performance across the board.
- B Grade: Schools in the B grade numbered 13,636 in 2017, but by 2024, this number dropped substantially to 4,603.
- C Grade: In 2017, 9,163 schools were placed in the C grade, but this figure plummeted to just 1,032 in 2024, showing notable progress in education quality.
- D Grade: D-grade schools saw the most remarkable decline, from 7,105 in 2017 to only 261 in 2024, a testament to the program’s success in improving educational standards.
Overall, the Gunotsav program has played a crucial role in uplifting the quality of education in schools, with a significant increase in the number of higher-grade schools and a sharp decline in lower-grade schools over the years.
Assam’s ongoing initiatives in education and welfare reflect a deep commitment to nurturing the potential of its students and fostering a brighter future. From the groundbreaking establishment of Tea Garden Model Schools and the expansion of higher education opportunities to the comprehensive support programs for student’s academic and personal growth, these efforts are setting the stage for a transformative educational landscape.
The state’s investment in quality infrastructure, mentorship, and welfare programs is improving educational standards and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive. As Assam continues its educational revolution, it stands poised to empower its youth, create new opportunities, and preserve its rich cultural heritage for future generations.
