Guwahati: The decision to conduct JEE (Main) in Assamese, among other regional languages is expected to boost the vernacular medium schools.
This might slow down the pace at which English medium schools have been increasing in Assam, particularly in towns and suburban areas, educationists said.
After the introduction of Assamese language in JEE (Main) 2021, school heads and academics said the thrust on mother tongue during schooling has been affirmed in an era of high competition at the 10+2 level.
Dilip Kumar Borah, the academic and principal of Ramanujan Junior College of Nagaon said that "For Assam, it's a big development so far as appearing in competitive exams is concerned. In the urban areas, most students are fluent in English, but rural students are not yet as well-conversant and this has led to new English medium schools in the state. The decision to introduce Assamese in JEE (Main) will infuse the trust in Assamese medium students that they can excel in a highly competitive national-level entrance such as JEE by doing schooling in their mother tongue, Assamese."
Principal Borah, whose co-educational institution has produced several rank-holders in the state boards and JEE qualifiers, said that the National Testing Agency's (NTA) move will do justice with vernacular medium students who prefer Assamese as the preferred mode of instruction since childhood.
M Haque, the chancellor of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya said that NTA's decision will help revive the Assamese medium's reputation back on the lines of the NEP,2020.
He, however, said that justice needs to be done with other vernacular languages, where a large chunk of students are doing their schooling.
According to Haque, the introduction of Assamese language in JEE (Main) will encourage mane vernacular medium students. However, this move should not pose as a threat to the Bengali students of the Barak Valley.
In the districts of Barak Valley, students mostly prefer Bengali medium in government schools, where education is not imparted in Assamese medium.