STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Samagra Shiksha, Assam (SSA) has informed 16 Residential Special Training Centres (RSTCs) of the state that it would close their institutions by August 31, 2023, and the students of these 16 RSTCs would be enrolled in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) for girls and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Awasiya Vidyalaya (NSCBAV) for boys.
Residential Special Training Centres are interventions through which the educational needs of out-of-school children (OoSC), preferably of marginalized groups such as dropouts, orphans, and children of single parents in the upper primary age group, are catered to. Two other residential interventions, viz., KGBV for girls and NSCBAV for boys, are also implemented to cater to the educational needs of OoSC in upper primary and secondary age groups through fund provisions made by the Government of India. The facilities available in KGBVs and NSCBAVs include better infrastructure, stipends for learners, qualified teachers, and educational provision even beyond class VIII for continuation of school education.
The 16 RSTCs are located at Bhaktardaba RSTC in Barpeta district for girls, Salchapra RSTC in the Cachar district for boys, Gosaigaon RSTC in the Chirang district for girls, Dalgaon RSTC in the Darrang district for girls, and Bidyadham RSTC in the Dhemaji district, Golokganj RSTC in the Dhubri district for girls, Dudhnoi RSTC in the Goalpara district for girls, Kamalsing Thuribari RSTC in the Kokrajhar district for girls, Bangalmora RSTC in the Lakhimpur district for girls, Batadrava RSTC in the Nagaon district for boys, Kathpara RSTC in the Nagaon district for boys, Sadar RSTC in the Nagaon district for girls, Bordubi RSTC in the Tinsukia district for girls, Orang RSTC in the Udalguri district for girls, Rangia RSTC in the Kamrup district for boys, and Baithalangsho RSTC in the West Karbi Anglong district for girls.
Speaking to The Sentinel, All Assam RSTC Workers’ Association president Abdur Rajib said, "Of the 76 RSTCs in the state, the government took the decision to close 16 of them. This is an undemocratic move. The RSTCs were established in Assam in 2003 under the RTE (Right to Education) Act for the schooling of out-of-school children. Around 200 workers are working in the 16 RSTCs, imparting education to around 1,000 children. We seek intervention from the Chief Minister to roll back the SSA's decision. A dark future awaits us (200 workers working in the 16 RSTCs)."
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