COVID-19 tests made compulsory for teachers & professors of Assam

Assam: Assam education and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that each teacher, professor, and every other employee associated with the education of the state shall be compulsorily tested for the COVID-19.

"From the 21st of this month till August 30, all the employees associated with the education sector shall be compulsorily tested for the COVID-19 for the well-being of the students", Sarma said at a presser held here earlier today.

The Assam education minister said that these employees must report back to the places where their respective schools/colleges are located by the 1st of September. "They must report back to the places where their respective institutes are located by September 1 with a COVID-19 negative report. Otherwise, it will be treated as a leave without pay", Sarma said.

On the decision to re-open schools and colleges, Sarma said that the situation is being "closely monitored", and the decision will be taken on the basis of the Central Government's assessment and permission.

"Since this is a national disaster, we are waiting for the Government to give its nod to reopen schools and colleges. As soon as we get the assent, we will notify within 24 hours", Himanta Biswa Sarma added.

Sarma today also announced that the appointment process for lower primary and upper primary teachers in Assam will begin from August 27 next.

Appointment letters to 300 candidates will be distributed at a program to be held at the Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati; other candidates will be able to download the appointment letters from specific websites. The education minister further stated that 7,000 candidates will be appointed as LP, ME teachers.

The advertisement for the posts of 7,440 high school teachers in the first week of September, Sarma said.

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