On Thursday, Assam Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu distributed financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each to the families of 13 deceased contractual teachers and educational staff at a solemn ceremony held at the Samagra Shiksha Assam (SSA) office in Kahilipara, Guwahati. The assistance was provided as part of a contractual provision under SSA, which operates as a society under the state’s Education Department. These teachers had been brought into the education system during Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s tenure as the then Education Minister, and their jobs had nearly been regularized at that time.

Dr. Pegu explained that under their contracts, these teachers were assured continued service up to the age of 60, subject to satisfactory annual performance evaluations. While the contracts did not include pension provisions, a clause stated that in the event of death during service, the government would offer ₹5 lakh as financial assistance to the teacher’s family. In continuation of this commitment, the financial aid was provided to the 13 families. Dr. Pegu also informed that certificates from an additional 93 families are awaited, and once those are received through respective district commissioners, similar financial assistance cases will be processed.

During the same address, Dr. Pegu issued a stern warning to unregistered educational institutions operating across Assam. He made it clear that no school will be permitted to function without proper registration and necessary internal infrastructure. The Minister emphasized that strict directives have been issued to the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA), the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), and all district-level education officials to ensure compliance. He further stated that the Education Department will run awareness campaigns to inform parents about the importance of sending their children only to registered schools.

Looking ahead to the upcoming academic session, Dr. Pegu announced the government’s intention to form a special committee comprising experienced educationists and retired principals. The purpose of this committee will be to evaluate and recommend possible revisions to the academic calendar. Dr. Pegu stressed that instead of the department making such decisions unilaterally, they prefer to act based on the collective wisdom and guidance of learned professionals in the education sector.

This series of actions reflects the Assam government’s commitment to upholding the rights and welfare of teachers working under contractual frameworks and to improving the overall standard and accountability of educational institutions across the state. The proactive steps—ranging from honoring contractual commitments to strengthening school regulations and involving experts in academic reforms—aim to ensure that the state’s education system becomes more responsive, structured, and sustainable.