Submit proposals within a week: Dispur to Director of Secondary Education

UPGRADATION OF HIGH SCHOOLS TO HS LEVEL

 Move to accommodate excess number of 80,000 students who have cleared HSLC examination

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Special Commissioner, Elementary & Secondary Education Department has asked the DSE (Director of Secondary Education) Assam, to submit a detailed proposal for initiating the steps to accommodate all the students who have cleared the Class-X or HSLC (High School Leaving Certificate) examination this year.

Regarding submission of proposal for up-gradation of High Schools to Higher Secondary Schools, the Special Commissioner said, "Considering the fact that during the current academic year of 2020-21, the number of students who passed Class-X examination this year is 3,97,121 which is 93.18% as compared to last year's 64.80%; and after due assessment, it is foreseen that there is a shortage of 80,000 seats.

There is an urgent need to take measures to accommodate these excess numbers of students in Class-XI in the Higher Secondary/ Senior Secondary Schools and in the colleges which are running Higher Secondary courses. One such measure to increase the seat capacity is to upgrade the existing High Schools to Higher Secondary Schools.

"Accordingly DSE, Assam has been requested to submit a formal proposal to the Government within seven days for upgradation of the existing High Schools to Higher Secondary/Senior Secondary Schools as per criteria listed below:

"A High School may be considered for up-gradation to Higher Secondary school with the foremost condition of having: (a) requisite infrastructure i.e., additional Class Rooms; and (b) PG (Post Graduate) Teachers serving as Graduate Teachers.

"A High School fulfilling condition No.1 above may be upgraded to an HS School if there is no pending proposaL of amalgamation with an HS or Senior Secondary School; and, if there is no HS school in a radius of 5 km.

"A High School may also be upgraded to an HS School even though there is an HS within the radius of 5 km; provided that the HS School is having at least 500 students studying in the Secondary Section i.e., from Classes IX to XII.

"Any pending proposal for the amalgamation of a High School with a Higher Secondary School should be expedited to give effect from the current academic session of 2021-22.

"The DSE, Assam will submit a formal proposal within seven days for the up-gradation of such High Schools to Higher Secondary Schools along with their subjects etc.

"The up-gradation shall be made in respect of the Arts stream only as on date; and, thereafter the Science and Commerce streams may be taken up in a phased manner with concomitant provision of facilities.

"The DSE, Assam, will identify the schools which need to be upgraded because of the urgent need for accommodation of the excess students this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and submit the proposal to the government for approval.

"The eligible teachers with the requisite qualifications of the existing High Schools shall be allowed to teach in Classes Xl and XII in the upgraded school. Further, the teachers of the existing nearby High Schools/ Higher Secondary Schools/Senior Secondary Schools may also be allowed to teach in the proposed upgraded school. In this connection, Assam will call for a feasibility report from AHSEC before taking a final decision."

The Special Commissioner's letter (ASE. 210/2013/Pt./91-A) dated August 19 to the Director, Secondary Education Assam, added, "Suitable honorarium may be given to these teachers who will be entrusted with the additional duty of taking classes at the XI and XII levels in the proposed upgraded schools. In this connection, DSE, Assam will examine the current budget provision and prepare a suitable honorarium to be paid to the aforesaid teachers.

"The Director of Secondary Education, Assam, will ensure the commencement of the upgraded Higher Secondary section from the present Academic session 2021-2022. In this connection, the Secondary Education Department shall examine the proposal received from DSE, and convey its decision to DSE, Assam within five days.

"The DSE, Assam shall, thereafter, duly submit the proposal for the creation of necessary posts in the upgraded Higher secondary schools.

"The existing vacancies and the newly created posts shall be immediately filled up as per rules and procedures; and, the postings will be rationalized as maintaining PTR.

"The DSE, Assam, will immediately take up the matter with Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University to start open distance learning courses of Classes X and XII, from the current academic year. Necessary permission will be accorded by the Government in Secondary Education Department."

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