Assam Schools Face Power and Sanitation Gaps

Guwahati: Hundreds of government schools in Assam remain in the dark. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu confirmed on Monday that 676 schools still lack electricity. These sites represent a small fraction of the state’s 44,243 schools. Pegu said the 676 schools account for 1.53 per cent of the total.

The state government set aside 4 crore rupees this year to fix the problem. Workers already installed solar power in 643 other schools that lack grid access. Officials aim to finish all essential upgrades by March 2027.

Sanitation remains a headache too. While every school now features a girl's toilet, 283 campuses still lack facilities for boys. Construction crews already started work on these missing latrines. Pegu noted, "The remaining challenge involves boy's toilets, with only 283 schools, 0.64 per cent of the total, still lacking the facility."

Digital upgrades are moving forward as well. Most state-managed schools now host at least one smart classroom or computer lab. Pegu plans to add 328 more labs this year to push toward full digital integration.