The minister said 676 government schools in Assam do not have electricity connections, while 283 schools are yet to be equipped with toilet facilities for boys. The figures were made public through a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, highlighting the challenges that remain in strengthening educational infrastructure across the state.

According to the data shared by the minister, Assam currently has 44,243 government schools. While a majority of institutions have access to essential amenities, a significant number still require infrastructure upgrades to ensure a better learning environment for students.

Pegu said the state government has set a target of providing all necessary basic facilities in government schools by March 2027. The objective includes expanding electricity access, improving sanitation facilities and addressing other infrastructure gaps that affect daily school operations.

Electricity remains one of the key concerns identified by the Education Department. Of the 44,243 government schools, 676 are functioning without any form of electricity connection. To address the issue, the state government has earmarked ₹4 crore in the current financial year for electrification projects in these institutions.

Officials believe that access to electricity is increasingly important for schools as classrooms become more dependent on digital learning tools, electronic equipment and technology-enabled teaching methods. Lack of power supply can limit the use of educational resources and affect overall learning outcomes, particularly in remote areas.

The minister also pointed out that not all schools without conventional electricity are completely deprived of power. A total of 643 government schools currently rely on solar energy systems for their electricity needs. These installations have been introduced to ensure that basic requirements such as lighting and operation of essential equipment can continue even in areas where regular grid connectivity is unavailable.

The sanitation situation presents a mixed picture. According to the Education Department, all government schools in Assam now have toilet facilities for girls, marking a significant milestone in efforts to improve school hygiene and encourage student attendance.

However, infrastructure gaps remain for boys. The minister said 283 schools still do not have dedicated toilet facilities for male students. Construction work to address the shortfall has already been initiated under the current financial year, with authorities aiming to complete the pending projects within the planned timeline.

Education experts have long highlighted the importance of sanitation facilities in schools, noting that access to clean and functional toilets plays a crucial role in student health, attendance and overall educational outcomes. Adequate sanitation infrastructure is also considered essential for creating a safe and inclusive learning environment.

The latest figures come as several states across India continue to focus on improving public school infrastructure through targeted investments in classrooms, sanitation, electricity and digital education facilities.

For Assam, the challenge now lies in ensuring that the remaining infrastructure gaps are closed within the timeline announced by the government. With electrification projects and toilet construction already underway, officials are expected to closely monitor implementation progress over the coming months.

The state government maintains that achieving universal access to basic amenities in government schools remains a priority as it works toward its March 2027 target.