Tripura plans education reform through school mergers and institutional partnerships

Tripura is considering a plan to merge select government schools and place them under the management of reputed educational organizations such as the Ramakrishna Mission as part of efforts to improve learning outcomes and raise education standards in the state.

Chief Minister Manik Saha announced the proposal on June 15, saying the move is aimed at ensuring better-quality education for students.

"We are planning to merge some schools and entrust their management to organizations or societies like the Ramakrishna Mission so that students receive quality education," Saha told reporters.

The announcement comes amid concerns over staffing shortages in the state's education system. A recent NITI Aayog report highlighted a deficit of more than 8,000 teachers in government-run schools across Tripura.

Saha noted that many students, particularly those living in tribal areas, are increasingly opting for English-medium schools, resulting in lower enrollment in government institutions.

"We are trying to create an environment in government schools comparable to that of private institutions to attract more students. The government is spending more than private schools," he said.

Most government schools in Tripura operate in Bengali, while a large number of private institutions offer instruction in English. To improve academic standards, the state government converted 125 schools into CBSE-affiliated Vidyajyoti Schools in 2021.

The chief minister also pointed to a steady decline in the state's school dropout rate and outlined measures aimed at supporting girls' education.

Calling child marriage a significant social challenge, Saha said the government has introduced multiple initiatives to encourage girls to remain in school and become financially independent.

Among these measures is the expansion of the bicycle distribution scheme for Class 9 girls. The state has removed the family income eligibility cap, allowing more students to benefit from the program.

According to Saha, around 41,800 Class 9 girls across Tripura are receiving free bicycles during the current financial year.