Guwahati, Nov. 25: The Assam Christian Forums (ACF) on Tuesday expressed profound concern at the Assam Cabinet’s approval of the Assam Private Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Amendment Bill, 2025.
The proposed law, set to be tabled in the Assembly, would strip away long-standing protection for minority-run schools, by allowing unchecked government control over their fee structures,” a statement issued here by ACF said.
The ACF, a non-profit coalition of Christian leaders, educators and community groups in Assam, stated the Bill ends the previous hands-off approach for minority schools and hands the state sweeping powers to fix fees, monitor collections and intervene at will.
“For Christian missionary institutions – which have been pillars of education in Assam for over a century – this feels like a direct attack on their freedom to run schools in line with their values and needs. We are pained and feel intimidated,” said Archbishop John Moolachira, chairman of ACF.
“These schools are not businesses; they are nation builders, our community’s heartbeat, preserving our identity, language and culture through education. Now, the government wants to decide how we fund them, which could force many to close or lose what makes them special,” the ACF chairman said.
Without the ability to set reasonable fees, the ACF expressed concern that these schools might also struggle to pay teachers, maintain facilities or offer scholarships to poor students – many from tribal and remote areas.
“This could dilute the unique Christian ethos that has defined them, violating the sacred promise in Article 30(1) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees minorities, both religious and linguistic right to establish and manage their own educational institutions. ACF worries this is the start of more interference, threatening the very survival of minority education in a diverse state like Assam,” Archbishop Moolachira said.
Yet amid these apprehensions, ACF recalled the unmatched contributions of missionary schools since before India’s independence.
ACF therefore requested the Assam government to pause and rethink on the Bill. “Amend it to respect minority rights – include our voices in any oversight body and protect our autonomy,” Archbishop Moolachira appealed.
