Arunachal orders closure of 386 government schools for zero enrolment

Arunachal Pradesh government closes 386 schools with zero student enrolment to rationalize resources and improve education quality.

The Arunachal Pradesh government has ordered the closure of 386 government schools across the State that have recorded zero student enrolment in the current academic year.

The order, issued by the State's Education department on Monday (June 2, 2025), follows a detailed analysis of data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), which identified a significant number of schools that have remained non-functional, in some cases for several years.

The decision is aimed at rationalising educational infrastructure and making better use of teaching staff and facilities.

The closure affect schools in almost every district, including remote and border regions such as Kurung Kumey, Tawang, Anjaw, Changlang and Upper Subansiri.

The list includes primary, upper primary, middle, and secondary government schools that have had no student enrolment this year and, in some instances, for multiple academic sessions.

According to the official notification, West Kameng district reported the highest number of closures, with 73 schools shut down. Other districts with significant numbers include Papum Pare with 50 closures, West Siang with 31, Upper Subansiri and Siang with 28 each, and East Kameng with 23. Several other districts also saw closures ranging from one to 22 schools.

Education department officials explained that the closures are part of a larger rationalisation initiative that focuses on consolidating educational resources and improving learning outcomes.