Assam Govt Begins Crackdown On Insurance Agents Among School Teachers

Guwahati: Miffed over the dismal passing percentage in the recently declared High School Leaving Certification (HSLC), especially in the state-run schools, the Assam government has begun cracking down on school teachers who gives more time in selling insurance.

The actions come after the poor performance of the government schools in HSLC results in the state which was announced on June 7. This year, the passing percentage was 56.49 percent, which is a sharp drop from 93.10 percent in 2021.

According to a report by The Hindu, the state government's attention was particularly to 25 schools where ''zero percent'' students succeeded and 77 others where the pass percentage was 10 percent or less.

Speaking on the same, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also alleged that a section of teachers is serving as LIC agents in the name of teaching which is eventually reflected in the results of the schools.

However, he also opined that many teachers discharged their duty sincerely.

"Of course, there are many teachers who discharge their duties sincerely. Otherwise, almost 60% of students would not have succeeded," he added.

Interestingly, in May, the State's Secondary Education Department got inputs that some teachers were indulged in selling LIC policies following which S.N. Choudhury, the Secondary Education secretary shot a letter to the department's director asking him to immediately fix a hearing and proceed as per the procedures of the Disciplinary Rules in force.

The letter addressed to the director also asked to submit the steps taken to the department by the next 15 days.

As per the report, the director was also asked to instruct all inspectors of schools to issue a notice stating, '' teaching and non-teaching staff of schools should not be involved as LIC agents or any other licensed profession.''

''Anybody involved in such licensed profession should withdraw voluntarily by May 31,'' the letter said.

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