Assam Cabinet: New school board to have 2 branches

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Cabinet recently approved the merger of two education boards—the Secondary Education Board of Assam (SEBA) and the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC)—into a single entity named the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB).

The merger move was contemplated by the state government with the aim to ‘develop, regulate, and supervise the standard and quality of school education’ in the state.

The merged school education board, ASSEB, after its formation, will comprise two branches. This board will also be in accordance with the academic structure envisaged in the National Education Policy 2020.

As suggested by the NEP 2020, the new academic structure will follow a 5+3+3+4 education system where the students will spend 5 years strengthening their foundation, 3 years in the preparatory stage, 3 years in the middle stage, and the rest 4 years in the secondary stage. This involves overhauling the entire system of schooling. It was stated that in addition to rote learning, children would also be educated through practical knowledge.

According to this formula, schooling is broken down into four phases, which include the education of a student from 3 to 18 years of age and studying up to the 12th standard.

Five of 5+3+3+4 in this case denotes formative years. The foundation stage is split into two parts: 3 years of preschool and 2 years of primary school. The first three include both grades 1-2 together. The next +3 will then be split into a Class 3 to Class 5 preparation phase. Following this, students will complete three years of middle school (Classes 6 through 8) before finishing their secondary education for four years (Classes 9 to 12).

Accordingly, the education of students from pre-primary to secondary level in the state will come under the purview of a single new board, the ASSEB, which will comprise two branches. A source in the School Education department said, “There is no need for two boards, as one board will have two branches. One branch will look after the books, syllabus, and exams of Classes XI and XII. The other will be entrusted with the books, syllabus, and exams from pre-primary classes to Class X. Each branch will have two cells—the academics and examination sections.”

Moreover, two vice chairpersons will be appointed by the state government, one each for the two branches in the new board. A chairperson will be appointed to handle the overall administration of the board, the source said.

It was, however, clarified that the employees earlier employed in the two boards, SEBA and AHSEC, will retain their employment; only they will be employed in the two branches of ASSEB now.

The new board will be formed after a bill to that effect is introduced in the budget session of the state Assembly, scheduled to be held in February, and is passed into law. Once the board is formed, its operations will start, the source added.

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