Assam education department instructs formation of fresh school management committees
Guwahati, Aug 4
Assam's School Education Department has issued a fresh notification directing all government and provincialised schools across the state to constitute School Management Committees within one month from the commencement of every academic year, replacing the existing School Management Development Committees, in line with the National Education Policy 2020, officials said on Tuesday.
The notification, issued by the Department of School Education lays down the norms for the constitution, roles and responsibilities of SMCs for Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary schools across Assam.
A senior official stated that the order supersedes all earlier government notifications, instructions and guidelines related to school management committees and has been issued under Section 21 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, while incorporating provisions of NEP 2020 and the Samagra Shiksha 2.0 framework.
With the new notification, the state government has decided that all schools, including secondary and higher secondary institutions up to Class 12, will function with School Management Committees.
Consequently, School Management Development Committees (SMDCs), which earlier functioned in secondary schools, will no longer be constituted, officials mentioned.
The department said the move is aimed at strengthening community participation in school education through a unified governance structure.
According to the notification, SMCs will serve as the primary institutional mechanism for decentralised school governance by involving local communities in planning, monitoring and improving educational outcomes.
The committee will comprise government officials, parents or guardians of students, representatives of local authorities, academicians, subject experts, alumni and representatives of disadvantaged groups.
The size of the committee will depend on student enrolment. Schools with up to 100 students will have 12 to 15 members, those with enrolment between 100 and 500 students will have 15 to 20 members, while institutions with more than 500 students will constitute committees comprising 20 to 25 members.
The notification states that the revised guidelines are intended to provide a uniform framework for strengthening school-level governance and harmonising local rules with the national vision of inclusive, participatory and accountable education envisioned under the National Education Policy 2020.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I appreciate the intent, but the real question is implementation. We've seen so many committees formed on paper that never actually meet or do anything. I hope the department follows up with training for the members and clear guidelines on how they can genuinely contribute, especially in the tea garden areas where schools really need help.
Good to see alumni being included in the committee! Having people who have walked those corridors can bring so much insight and possibly even resources. The 12-25 member structure seems practical based on school size. Hope our school in Dibrugarh gets a great committee this year. 🤞
The SMDC system had its flaws but was functioning. Replacing it entirely might create a transition gap. Also, will the SMCs have any real financial powers or just be advisory bodies? If we're serious about decentralisation, the committees should have some control over the school development funds and teacher performance assessment.
As a parent from a small town, this is reassuring. The inclusion of parents' representatives in governance means our voices will be heard. But please ensure that the members from disadvantaged groups are actually given the confidence to speak up. Many times, they are included for namesake only. Hoping for the best in our Bongaigaon school.
Nice to see this level of systematisation. The distinct membership sizes based on enrolment makes sense from a management perspective. While I'm not from Assam, I think the inclusion of local authorities and academicians alongside parents creates a holistic approach. Good clarity on the RTE Act linkage too.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.