STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had recently said that if the number of students enrolling in government schools continued to decrease, the government might have to offer voluntary retirement to the government school teachers within 10 years' time. The Assam State Primary Teachers' Association has reacted sharply to the Chief Minister's statement.
Talking to The Sentinel, Assam State Primary Teachers' Association general secretary Ratul Chandra Goswami said that teachers should be engaged only for teaching and not for other additional work. "According to a national survey, only 19.1 per cent of a teacher's annual school hours is spent on teaching activities. The remaining part of the teacher's time goes in non-teaching school-related activities. Till this situation is changed, the education scenario will not change,' said Goswami.
He further said, "In Assam, government school teachers are engaged in NRC-related work and other non-teaching activities. Where will they get time to devote to teaching? The Chief Minister presented the grim future of government schools in the State. There is a deep-rooted conspiracy to destroy the future of government schools. As part of this, in 2008 the government allowed schools to be opened in the PPP mode. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 also encourages private school education. The government appointed contractual teachers in government schools.
"Contractual appointment is given only in the private sector. Why appoint contractual teachers in government schools? The government must take steps to provide quality education in government schools."
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