Tripura Government Considers Handing Over State Schools to Private Organizations

Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced that his government is exploring a plan to merge specific state-run schools and transfer their management to reputable organizations, such as the Ramakrishna Mission. This initiative aims to elevate educational standards and solve persistent issues within the public school system.

Saha addressed the current situation during a press briefing on Monday. He noted that the government intends to provide students with superior learning opportunities by leveraging outside expertise. “We are planning to merge some schools and entrust their management to organisations or societies like the Ramakrishna Mission so that students receive quality education,” he said.

The move follows a NITI Aayog report indicating a shortage of over 8,000 teachers in the state. Furthermore, government schools face stiff competition as students, particularly those in tribal regions, increasingly favor English-medium instruction over the standard Bengali-medium curriculum. To counter this trend, the state previously converted 125 schools to the CBSE-affiliated Vidyajyoti model in 2021.

The government is also prioritizing student retention and welfare. Officials reported a steady decline in dropout rates and are actively working to combat child marriage through educational support. To encourage girls to stay in school, the administration has expanded its free bicycle distribution program for Class IX students by removing previous family income restrictions. Approximately 41,800 girls are expected to receive bicycles this financial year.