The Directorate of Elementary Education in Assam (DEE) plays a crucial role in elementary education across the state of Assam. It ensures inclusive and quality educational access to the Elementary stage of education. The goal is to achieve decentralized management at schools up to the Block level, and to attain universalization of Elementary Education (UEE)
In this article, we will discuss the history, functions, administrative hierarchy, services, and career growth opportunities under DEE Assam.
About the Directorate of Elementary Education in Assam (DEE)
The Director of the Elementary Education, Assam, is the head of the Directorate of the Elementary Education. Established in 1947, this Directorate belonged to the erstwhile Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI). Later, in 1977, the Directorate of Elementary Education was established as a separate entity, with its headquarters at Kahilipara, Guwahati. This separation enabled the government to focus its efforts on universal primary education, teacher training, and infrastructure development in rural and remote areas. It covers classes from Class I to Class VIII and covers students in the age group of 6 – 14 years.
Overview of DEE
| Aspect | Details |
| Department | Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam |
| Location | Kahilipara |
| Affiliations | SCERT, DIETs, Samagra Shiksha/SSA |
| Contact | Phone: 0361 2381180; Email: director.ele.edu[at]gmail[dot]com |
| Official website | https://dee.assam.gov.in/ |
Vision and Mission of the Directorate of Secondary Education, Assam
As the apex body of elementary education in Assam, the DEE has a clear vision and mission to promote quality education in the state. Its primary goals include :
Vision:
To promote all-round development of children aged 6-14 by imparting quality education.
Mission:
The mission is multifaceted:
1. National Integrative Character: Enhance the national integrative character of education in the elementary sector.
2. Quality Education: Improve the quality and standards of school education and literacy.
3. Societal Commitment: Build a society committed to constitutional values.
4. Free and Compulsory Education: Provide free and compulsory quality education to all children at the elementary level, as per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
5. Universal Access: Ensure access to quality education for all, especially in remote areas.
Under the broader framework of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, DEE works in coordination with bodies like SCERT (State Council for Educational Research and Training), DIETs (District Institutes for Education and Training), and the Samagra Shiksha mission
Administrative Structure of DEE Assam
The administrative hierarchy of DEE Assam includes:
- Director of Elementary Education – The head of the Directorate, responsible for policy execution and coordination with the Education Ministry.
- Additional Directors / Joint Directors – Oversee specific divisions like teacher training, planning, and school inspections.
- District Elementary Education Officers (DEEOs) – Responsible for implementation at the district level.
- Sub-divisional and Block Officers – Ensure school-level operations and monitoring.
These officers collectively manage more than 40,000 government and provincialized schools across Assam.
Officers in the Elementary Education Department
| Designation | Level | Indicative Work Responsibilities |
| Principal Secretary | Apex | Overall supervision of the department, policy formulation, inter-departmental coordination, and cabinet-level decisions. |
| Commissioner & Secretary | Senior | Administrative head of the department, coordinating between directorates and the secretariat. |
| Secretary | Senior | Monitoring the execution of plans, managing inter-office correspondence, and supporting the Commissioner |
| Joint Secretary | Mid | Assisting in departmental functions, drafting policies, and coordinating with lower offices. |
| Deputy Secretary | Mid | Handling day-to-day administrative matters, managing specific schemes or projects. |
| Under Secretary | Junior | Processing files, drafting government orders, and supporting higher officers in documentation. |
| Superintendent | Base | Supervising clerical staff, file movement, record keeping, and internal office management. |
Offices under the Elementary Education Department
| Office/Designation | Function/Responsibilities |
| Mission Director, SSA | Heads the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, implements universal elementary education schemes, and oversees fund utilization and monitoring. |
| Director, EE, Assam | Responsible for all administrative and operational functions of Elementary Education in Assam. |
| Director, SCERT, Assam | Leads the State Council of Educational Research and Training; develops textbooks, teacher training, and academic research. |
| MD, ASTPPCL, Assam | Managing Director of Assam State Textbook Production and Publication Corporation Ltd., handles textbook printing, publishing, and distribution. |
Key Initiatives under DEE Assam
1. Gunotsav – Celebrating Quality
Overview: Gunotsav is a quality-focused evaluation initiative in elementary (and now secondary) education..The government uses it to see how well each student is learning, find out where they are having problems, and help them improve. It also checks other things like activities beyond studies, how school facilities are used, and how the community takes part in school work.
Implementation Phases:
- Launched in 2017 in 8 districts: Barpeta, Chirang, Dibrugarh, Hailakandi, Kamrup (Metro), Lakhimpur, Morigaon, and West Karbi Anglong. Evaluations assessed Class II–VIII students across multiple parameters.
- Expanded to all 35 districts by 2025, involving over 44,000 schools and nearly 4 million students. The program spans three phases of self-evaluation followed by external evaluation.
Evaluation Criteria include scholastic subjects (Language, Mathematics), infrastructure, sanitation, ICT use, community participation, midday meal service, and more.
2. Learning Outcomes
Definition & Purpose: These are learning goals made by NCERT for Classes 1 to 8 in subjects like Environmental Studies, Science, Math, Social Science, Hindi, English, and Urdu. In Assam, SCERT translates them into local languages and shares them through booklets, posters, and leaflets. This helps teachers, parents, and the community to check how well students are learning.
3. DIKSHA and Energized Textbooks
DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing): It is a national education platform initiated by NCERT and the Ministry of Education. It offers open-access resources, teacher training modules, and analytics. In Assam, this portal has specific digital content for the state, including audio, video, practice materials, sign language modules, and broadcasts to help students learning.
Energized Textbooks: Energized Textbooks are printed books with QR codes that link to related digital content on DIKSHA. From 2018 to 2020, 37 such textbooks were made in Assam—29 for primary classes and 8 for high school. They were for Classes 5 to 10, covered 6 subjects in 5 languages, and had a total of 303 QR codes. Assam is now working on 152 more energized textbooks so that more students can use them.
Career Opportunities and Salary Structure in DEE Assam
DEE Assam regularly recruits for positions like:
- Assistant Teacher (LP/UP)
- Science Teacher
- Hindi Teacher
- Arabic Teacher
- Head Teachers and Supervisory Roles
Final Thoughts
The Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam, is the backbone of primary education development in the state of Assam. From teacher recruitment to school supervision, DEE Assam ensures that every child receives access to quality education.
Whether you’re an aspiring teacher, an educationist, or a student of public administration, understanding the role and structure of DEE Assam offers valuable insights into grassroots governance in education.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam?
The Directorate of Elementary Education (DEE), Assam, is the state body that manages primary and upper primary education across Assam. It ensures that children between the ages of 6 and 14 get access to free, quality education as per the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
2. When was DEE Assam established?
DEE Assam was formed in 1977 after separating from the Directorate of Public Instruction. This move allowed the government to focus more closely on improving primary education, teacher training, and school infrastructure, especially in rural and remote areas.
3. What classes does DEE Assam cover?
It covers education from Class I to Class VIII, catering to children in the 6–14 age group.
4. What is the main mission of DEE Assam?
Its mission is to provide free, compulsory, and quality education to every child, improve the quality of teaching, promote national integration, and ensure access to schools even in the most remote corners of the state.
5. Who heads DEE Assam?
The Director of Elementary Education is the head of the department, supported by Additional Directors, Joint Directors, District Elementary Education Officers, and other officials who manage education at the district, block, and school levels.
6. What are some key initiatives of DEE Assam?
Major initiatives include Gunotsav, which assesses the quality of education and school facilities; Learning Outcomes, which set clear goals for student performance; and Energized Textbooks, which link printed textbooks to digital learning resources.
7. What is Gunotsav, and why is it important?
Gunotsav is a quality-check program for schools. It evaluates how students are learning, identifies problem areas, and looks at factors like school facilities, community participation, and even midday meals. It helps improve both teaching and the overall school environment.
8. How does DEE Assam use digital tools?
Through the DIKSHA platform, DEE Assam offers teachers and students free access to audio, video, and practice materials. QR codes in Energized Textbooks also link directly to digital content, making learning more interactive.
9. What career opportunities are available under DEE Assam?
DEE Assam recruits for positions like Assistant Teacher (Lower and Upper Primary), Science Teacher, Hindi Teacher, Arabic Teacher, and Head Teacher. There are also supervisory and administrative roles for experienced educators.
10. How many schools does DEE Assam manage?
The Directorate oversees more than 40,000 government and provincialized schools, ensuring that education reaches children in every district of Assam.