STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Sadau Asom Sanmilita Sikshak Mancha (SASSM) has requested Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to refrain from closing down existing educational institutions rather than providing two-wheelers to the teachers to reach the schools in far-flung areas.
The State Government is giving away bicycles to students of Class IX to ensure easy access to schools in the villages and the far-flung areas. During the distribution event of these cycles in Tezpur, the Chief Minister announced that the government would be giving two-wheelers to the teachers as well so that they could reach their schools on time, especially when the schools are located in distant locations.
SASSM said that according to the education system, primary schools should be located 1 km apart, upper primary schools should be located 3 km apart and high schools should be located 5 km apart. However, due to various reasons, the government has shut down several schools across the State, causing a distance of 3 or more kilometres between primary schools at several places while some locations do not have schools in more than 5- 6 km. This has led to some students getting themselves affiliated with private schools and those who cannot afford to go to private schools, have dropped out altogether.
The organization added that it was not justified that some teachers be given vehicles, while students are made to work hard to avail basic education because of the decrease in the number of government schools. They also questioned the statement of the Chief Minister calling the teachers beneficiaries and asked how can they be called beneficiaries if the teachers are getting paid for the hard work that they are putting into educating the students.
SASSM also said that about 80% of the teachers today have been appointed by the Chief Minister himself and are very meritorious, and the remaining 20% are due to retire in the coming year or two. And in that condition, it makes no sense to present the teachers in a bad light and negatively which will affect their morale as well as the education system as a whole. They finally requested the Chief Minister to take the necessary steps to prevent any further closure of government schools and to work towards their betterment.
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