Leader of Opposition and Assam Congress leader Debabrata Saikia today raised serious concerns about the condition of the state’s education system. Speaking in the Assam Legislative Assembly while moving a cut motion on the Education Department’s demand for grants, Saikia said that the basic foundation of education in the state had weakened due to years of poor planning and lack of attention. He reminded the House that “education is the backbone of a nation,” but added that the real picture of Assam’s government schools tells a very worrying story.
Saikia said that the latest data from the Central Government’s UDISE report shows an alarming trend. According to him, the dropout rate in Assam at the secondary level is much higher than the national average, and the enrolment rate in higher secondary classes is lower than what is expected for a developing state. He said these numbers clearly show that many students are being left behind.
He also pointed out serious gaps in school infrastructure. Saikia told the House that thousands of government schools still lack essential facilities like safe drinking water, electricity connection, separate toilets for boys and girls, libraries, and even simple playgrounds. He said these are basic needs but many children in Assam still attend schools without them. 
Teacher shortage was another major issue highlighted in the Assembly. Saikia said that 2,633 schools in the state still have only one teacher, which makes it impossible to maintain quality. He added that the student–teacher ratio recommended under the National Education Policy (NEP) has not been implemented, making the situation more difficult for both students and teachers.
On the issue of science and technology, Saikia said that Assam has fallen behind. Thousands of schools do not have computers or any kind of internet facility. He also said that even though central funds were given earlier, science laboratories were not built in many higher secondary schools, which is affecting students’ ability to learn modern subjects.
Quoting the Performance Grading Index and the National Achievement Survey, Saikia said that learning levels in Assam remain low. He mentioned that many students cannot read according to their class level, and some struggle to solve simple everyday mathematical problems. He said this is a matter of great concern and must be addressed immediately.
Saikia also mentioned that in many government schools, teachers are forced to conduct multiple classes in a single classroom, which disturbs students and creates a poor learning environment. He said this also threatens the future of Assamese-medium schools that already face several challenges.
In his suggestions, Saikia urged the government to continue the 5% reservation for government school students. He said this support is important to motivate students from poor and rural backgrounds. He also suggested that a district-wise detailed report should be prepared to understand the exact problems in each area. He said that once such a report is available, the government should solve the issues through either government funding or private investment.
Saikia said Assam does not need more promises but needs real improvement in the quality of education, because the future of the state depends on its children.
