Assam government declared 382 institutions provincialized at various levels

GUWAHATI: With the State government declaring the "provincialisation" of 382 educations institutions at various levels on Tuesday, 3,980 teachers will be benefitted in the first phase. Significantly, this move has come after a gap of six years. The last provincialisation drive in Assam was carried out in 2014. The second list will be announced in November this year. The beneficiaries will enjoy these benefits from January 1, 2021.

Announcing this, State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the media here about several other key decisions related to this sector. He said, "Today, we've provincialized 197 High Schools, nine Higher Secondary Schools, 149 Senior Secondary Schools (Junior Colleges), and 27 colleges. The list will be available in the department's website. While 3,049 teachers will be benefitted at the school level (including those in the provincialized Junior Colleges); 931 others will enjoy the benefits at the college level — which also include those 690 teachers who were left out in the earlier provincialisation processes.

FREE SCOOTIES: Under the 'Pragya Bharati' scheme, free scooties will be given to each of the 22,000 girl students who secured the first division in the last Higher Secondary (HS) examination. Minister Sarma further said, "The distribution of these vehicles will be done within October 15, this year", adding, "Each scooty will cost between Rs 52,000 to Rs 55,000. The tenders for the same will be floated soon."

He, however, pointed out, "The students will have to follow two conditions: They won't be able to sell off the vehicles during the first three years; and they themselves will have to register these vehicles at the respective DTO (District Transport Officer) offices."

TEACHERS' RECRUITMENT: Minister Sarma further said that 7,440 vacant posts of graduate teachers at the High School-level will be filled up. In this regard, advertisements will be floated in the second week of September.

He added, "The Education department has already floated advertisements for filling up 9,635 teachers' posts at the LP (Lower Primary) and ME (Middle English) levels. Of them, 300 successful candidates will get their ceremonial appointment letters on August 27. The others will be able to download their appointment letters from the department's website."

GRADUATE STUDENTS' SEATS: Each of the colleges in Assam will have to increase 25% seats at the degree level to accommodate those students who cleared the AHSEC Class-XII examination this year. This has been done only for this session which is being already declared as a COVID-pandemic academic year, stated Sarma.

Giving the background as to why this decision had to be taken, the Minister said, "As the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) could not arrange the Class-XII examination this year owing to COVID-19, the Central Board awarded projected marks to their candidates. However, the AHSEC (Assam Higher Secondary Education Council) conducted the Class-XII examination and the markings were real. But the fact remains that as per the CBSE norms, their students have secured more percentages. Against this backdrop, many students who had passed the AHSEC Class-XII examination this year could not get admission in various degree courses."

COVID TEST MANDATORY: All teachers and employees of various educational institutions — from the LP to the university levels – will have to undergo mandatory COVID-19 tests within August 21 to 30, 2020. The Minister further said, "It is only with the negative COVID-19 reports that all these employees will be allowed to resume their duties from September 1, 2020. If anyone fails to report on this day, it will be deemed as 'Leave without pay'."

He added, "From September 1, they will remain as 'standby' in their respective educational institutions. We are waiting for the direction from the Government of India as to when the students should be allowed to attend their classes. The Assam government has already prepared 'Standard Operating Procedures' (SOPs) in this regard.

FEES CONCESSION: The private schools will have to give 25% concession in the monthly school fees during the entire pandemic period till it is over," Sarma said, adding, "The State government presented this view also to the Guwahati High Court during a hearing on a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) on reduction of school fees by the private schools especially during the COVID-19 period."

He added, "If any school does not follow this order and we get a written complaint from any concerned guardian or any citizen, action will be taken against the respective school management(s) after due inquiry."

National Education Policy: "A committee has been constituted to suggest means to implement the recommendations of the National Education Policy-2020 in Assam," said Sarma.

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