Assam Christian Forum Warns of Threat to Minority School Autonomy

Guwahati, 27 November 2025 — Assam Christian Forum (ACF) has raised serious concern over the newly tabled Assam Private Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Amendment Bill, 2025, urging the government to review the legislation before it undermines the autonomy of minority-run schools and impacts their long-established role in education across the state. 

According to ACF, the bill grants the state sweeping powers to fix fees, monitor collections and interfere in the internal functioning of institutions administered by religious or linguistic minorities. 

ACF chairman John Moolachira described the move as a “direct attack” on Christian missionary schools, which have served as “pillars of education in Assam for over a century.” He warned that imposing government-regulated fees and oversight could force many institutions to struggle with paying teachers, maintaining infrastructure, or offering scholarships to underprivileged students, especially those from tribal or remote backgrounds. 

Citing constitutional protections under Article 30(1), which grant minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice, ACF appealed to the government to safeguard minority rights and ensure that any regulatory framework includes minority-community voices and preserves institutional autonomy. 

The Forum warned that without these safeguards, the heritage and social contributions of Christian-run schools in Assam could be jeopardised.

Source and Image Credits : India Today