No politics on education: Minister Ranoj Pegu

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Education Minister Ranoj Pegu told the Assam Assembly that "making education a political issue is uncalled for, and nobody should try to draw political mileage out of education as it is directly related to students".

The Education Minister said this in reacting to the discussion on the decision to teach Science and Mathematics in English in vernacular schools. The Opposition raised the issue under Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Assembly. The Education Minister said, "If you have anything to say on the government policy on education, you are welcome. We welcome constructive criticism. However, never try to make it an issue. Our decision to teach science and mathematics in English from the primary level is in sync with the NEP-2020 (National Education Policy-2020), which stressed a multilingual model. Since English is a must for any students in the upper classes, we have decided to start English in two subjects from the primary level. Imparting of education will be purely on mother tongues at the pre-primary level. The science and mathematics textbooks for primary level will be in sync with the age level of the students."

Pegu said, "The government stance is crystal clear.

it will set up a model school in each district under the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) and English sections in some vernacular medium schools. Candidates with the knowledge of ethnic languages will get teacher posts irrespective of their mother tongues."

Pegu said, "A misconception over school amalgamation, the fall in enrollment of students in government schools and the rise in dropouts is doing rounds in the state. The government will publish a white paper on this soon."

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, Aminul Islam (junior), Bharat Narah, Manoranjan Talukdar, Akhil Gogoi, and others said that the decisions on education taken by the government would be detrimental to the government schools. Despite almost all literary bodies, student organizations and other civil societies opposing the decision, the government was adamant in its stance, they said.

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