Assam Overhauls School Governance Rules for All State Institutions

Guwahati: The Assam Department of School Education issued a new mandate requiring all government and provincialised schools to form School Management Committees. This order covers Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary, and Senior Secondary institutions. It scraps all previous government directives, including the old School Management Development Committees.

Schools must set up these committees within one month of the new academic session starting. These rules align with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009, the National Education Policy of 2020, and the Samagra Shiksha 2.0 framework.

Membership size depends on student enrolment. Schools with up to 100 students need 12 to 15 members. Schools with 100 to 500 students must appoint 15 to 20 members. Institutions with more than 500 students require 20 to 25 members. The state says the revised guidelines are "aimed at strengthening school-level governance and aligning local practices with the national vision of inclusive, participatory and accountable education under NEP 2020."

Committees will pull members from diverse groups. The panels will include parents, guardians, local officials, teachers, subject experts, alumni, and disadvantaged community members. Officials hope this move forces better decentralised governance by bringing the community directly into the classroom.