Government's decision is contradictory and threat to Assamese language: AJYCP

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) has strongly opposed the Cabinet's decision to teach Science and Mathematics in English instead of Assamese or other vernacular languages in the government schools. The organization has demanded the State Government to repeal the decision at the earliest.

In support of the demand, the Lakhimpur district unit of the AJYCP took to the streets and staged a three-hour long sit-in in North Lakhimpur town on Wednesday. Notably, the State cabinet on July 28 took several key decisions in the education sector, which included making all schools co-ed, except those girls-only schools with long history, replacing Social Studies with History and Geography as compulsory subjects. Moreover, the State cabinet took another crucial decision that from the next academic session in 2023, Mathematics and Science would be taught in English only from Class III onwards in all government and provincialized schools and accordingly, all textbooks for these two subjects would be printed in English language only. This decision of the State Government has drawn flak from premier literary bodies, students' organizations and some political parties.

Lakhimpur district unit of AJYCP termed the decision taken by the Government of Assam as 'a contradictory, unexpected and imprudent one'. While opposing the decision, the organization said that this move of the government would be a tremendous threat to the existence of the Assamese medium schools in the State. "It will pose a threat to the Assamese language too," the organization said.

"In the past, the Government of Assam and Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that in Assam, even the textbooks of medical and engineering courses would be published in the Assamese language. The matter of serious concern is that the previous declaration made by the State Government and the Prime Minister and present State Government's decision are contradictory to each other," stated a press statement issued by the Lakhimpur district unit of AJYCP.

The organization vehemently condemned the 'contradictory and anti-Assamese language decision of the State Government'. Further, by staging the protest programme, the organization demanded the State Government to withdraw the decision, to appoint teachers against every class of every school across the State, to establish institutions with adequate infrastructure to promote Science education and to make education free-of-cost in every government school. The organization submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in support of these demands.

Notably, Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX), the premier literary body of the State, All Assam Students' Union (AASU), Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) and All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU), the prominent organizations of the Bodo community have also flayed the government's decision. These organizations already opposed the decision by taking resolution in a joint meeting.

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