AASU Undertakes 10-Hour Fast to Start Month-Long Protest

TINSUKIA: Following the announcements made by the state government, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) called these decisions to be against the best interests of the Assamese language. The student association also announce a month-long protest against the same.

The members of the student organisation’s Paneri unit organised a ten-hour fast as a sign of protest against the decisions of the state government. The protest was organised at the gates of the office of the forest department in Pangeri.

The organisation has announced that they will protest against the decisions and demanded their immediate rollback and supply of textbooks in Assamese instead of English. They also threatened to further intensify their protests in the coming days if their demands are not met.

The AASU (All Assam Students’ Union) and nine teachers’ organizations of the state had demanded the State Government to cancel its decision to introduce mathematics and science textbooks in English from Class VI onward in vernacular schools. The meeting said in no uncertain terms that the State Government should not meddle in the medium of instruction. The student body and the teachers’ organization got into a huddle in Guwahati and made the decision.

A statement issued to the media today by in-charge AASU president Utpal Sarma and general secretary Sankor Jyoti Baruah after the meeting said, “Today’s meeting demanded the State Government to teach English properly in Assamese medium, Bodo medium, and other vernacular medium schools to make the students write, read, and speak English. Likewise, the Government should teach Assamese, Bodo, and other mother tongues properly in the English-medium schools so that the students can read, write, and speak their mother tongues.”

On the issue of mathematics and science textbooks in English in vernacular schools, the statement said, “The government may take care of introducing mathematical and science terminologies in the vernacular medium schools. We, however, oppose any move to introduce mathematics and science textbooks in English in such schools. Earlier, the State Government made an attempt to introduce mathematics and science textbooks from Class III onward in vernacular schools. The government is now adamant to start such English textbooks from Class VI onward.”

Also Read: Laikhuta of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) district session erected at Gadhehagi village, Biswanath Chariali

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