GUWAHATI: At a time when hundreds of schools are having trouble getting access to toilets and electricity, the Assam government on Sunday presented awards to the government schools that received the highest A+ mark in this year's massive Gunotsav school assessment programme.
In Gunotsav, where ministers, IAS, IPS, and top government officials evaluated the quality of education and infrastructure shortages in the government-run schools, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gave Rs 25,000 to each of the 4,841 schools that earned the coveted A+ mark.
In 2017, the state government adopted the Gunotsav concept from the Gujarat model of the programme for evaluating schools and used the same nomenclature. The CM praised the accomplishments of these schools and declared at a ceremony that starting the following year, schools that consistently earn A+ grades in Gunotsav for two years in a row will receive incentives of Rs 50,000 each and an additional teacher above the authorised strength will be appointed.
According to Sarma, the services of contract instructors employed by A+ schools will be regularised in appreciation for their efforts. In the recently finished assembly session, the government told the state assembly that over 1,100 government schools—mostly primary ones—are operating without electricity.
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu informed the house that 3,117 schools do not have bathroom facilities for boys, while 1,693 schools do not have toilets for girls, citing the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2021–22 findings.
On this occasion, Sarma launched two apps designed to expand the technological reach of the education department: Analytics Powered E-Classroom and Siksha Setu Axom.
In order to make the process of delivering education a pleasant and engaging experience for the students, Sarma advised the teaching community to make significant use of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and mixed reality, among others.
On Sunday, the Assam chief minister honoured the 98th birthday of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by praising his contributions to the development of the country.
In order to coincide with the nationwide observation of December 25 as "Good Governance Day" and to pay tribute to the life and achievements of the great leader, the Gunotsav Award 2022 was presented to the beneficiary schools today, according to Sarma.
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