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MANGALDAI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday visited Ghorabondha Junior Basic School and B J Girls' Junior Basic School at Sipajhar in Darrang district as part of Gunotsav Phase-I and interacted with students and took stock of condition of the schools. Gunotsav 2022, which has begun today, will be held in three phases and conclude on June 4.
Speaking on the occasion at Ghorabondha Junior Basic School, Chief Minister Sarma said that Gunotsav was an opportunity to know about the present condition of educational institutions and the challenges faced by them. This also helps in planning to address all such issues in a holistic manner. Chief Minister Sarma stressed celebrating Gunotsav every year without any interruption and asked the Education Department to take necessary steps to ensure this.
He said that the Covid pandemic had severely affected the education system. However, efforts are being made to bring it back to its earlier condition. He also urged teachers, students and parents to cooperate with the State Government to take the academic environment in Assam to great heights.
The Chief Minister further said that the State Government was contemplating to introduce a hybrid method of teaching with mixture of both Assamese and English languages aimed at widening the ambit of job opportunities for the students. He also informed that the government was also thinking of rotational transfer of teachers within a district so that teachers serving at interior places also get an opportunity to work at relatively easily accessible places. He, however, said that the teaching community would also have to come forward willingly in a cooperative manner to realize this plan of the government.
Sarma also urged TET teachers to refrain from agitation as it leaves a negative impact on the education system. Saying that he was always ready to talk to them, the Chief Minister urged all to contribute for building a state that leads the country in the intellectual sphere.
While replying to questions, Chief Minister Sarma ruled out the shortage of teachers in many single teacher schools. "We have not faced a shortage of teachers. If we divide schools with teachers, it will be found that every school has a strength of not less than four teachers. But the problem is in our mindset. Our teachers are reluctant to serve in sar areas, in hills and in rural areas. Everyone needs jobs in the town areas only. We must change our attitude and mindset," he said. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also asked many questions to the students to test their learning abilities.
Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu, MLA Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi, Chairman of Assam Fisheries Development Corporation Gurujyoti Das and MD SSA Roshni A Korati were also present.
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