Assam Government to set up 119 model high schools in Tea estates

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Come November 1, 2020, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance, PWD and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are set to launch a scheme for the setting up of 119 model high schools in as many tea gardens in the State.

As of now, tea gardens in the State don't have high schools. What they have are only lower primary and upper primary schools. This reality makes the wards of tea garden labourers go much far off for secondary education.

The move is to bring tea garden labourers on as par with the national mainstream and fulfill their aspirations for all-round development.

According to sources, the Assam PWD (renamed as LokNirmanBibhag) will construct the high schools and hand them over to the Department of Secondary Education after completion. Rs 142.50-crore SOPD (State Owned Priority Development) fund was allocated in the 2020-21 Budget for the setting up of 119 model high schools in tea garden areas in the State. The State government has already got the consent from tea garden managements for the setting up of the model high schools. The PWD has already floated tender for the construction of the schools. The estimated cost for each of the 119 model high schools is Rs 1.19 crore, and the schools will be constructed in phases.

Each of such model schools, according to sources, will have the main gate, six classrooms, Principal's room with attached toilets, teachers' common room with attached toilet, general toilets for boys and girls, two PWD (Persons with Disability) toilets for staff and students and the boundary wall. The State government is contemplating on operating the proposed model high schools from the next academic session.

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