Learning Assamese to be compulsory from Class I to X, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

LANGUAGE MATTERS

State Cabinet decides to "nearly regularize" 46,153 teachers

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Dispur is ready with a new law to make Assamese a mandatory subject in all schools of the State, excluding Barak Valley and Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD).

The law will make Assamese a compulsory subject in all schools of the State irrespective of its medium of instruction.

Addressing a press conference at Janata Bhawan here on Sunday afternoon, Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Governor has already given his consent to the Bill prepared by the State Government to make learning Assamese compulsory for students from Class I to X. He, however, said while Bengali will be the medium of instruction in Barak Valley, students will learn Bodo language in BTAD.

In December 2019, amid the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in the state and the fear of migration of a large number of Bengali-speaking people in its aftermath, the State Cabinet decided to bring a law making Assamese language compulsory in all English (including Kendriya Vidyalaya) and vernacular- medium schools upto Class X.

On other hand Sarma said the State Cabinet has decided to "nearly regularize" 46,153 teachers of primary and high schools who had been working so far on contract system. These benefitted teachers include 29, 701 TET qualified teachers and 11,206 State pool teachers working in primary schools and 5,243 high school teachers. As per the Cabinet decisions, these teachers will now remain in their services till they attain the age of 60. Earlier, these teachers were appointed for one year on contract and their contract used to be renewed.

The minister said 46,153 teachers will now receive salaries, yearly increment, dearness allowance and all other benefits including medical insurance upto Rs 5 lakh at par with regular school teachers working under the State Education department.

Sarma also said the government will bring a new legislation barring teachers to take transfer posting at their places of conveniences till 10 years from the dates of their joining in services. 

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