Speaker Biswajit Daimary rejects adjournment motions; Congress, AIUDF stage walkout

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Assam Assembly today over the government's decision to teach Mathematics and Science in English from Class 3 onwards in vernacular-medium schools. The Congress brought in an adjournment motion seeking discussion on the government's decision.

However, Speaker Biswajit Daimary rejected the motion saying that he would allow discussion on the issue through another device but he would not adjourn the House for this. The Congress initially opposed this and staged a walkout but later, the Congress agreed to have a discussion on the issue through another device.

Meanwhile, during Zero Hour, State Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu, while clearing the government's stand on the issue of teaching Mathematics and Science in English from Class 3 onwards in vernacular-medium schools, said that the medium of instruction would not change, only the textbooks of these two subjects would be published in English. "Even the National Education Policy (NEP) lays stress on multi-lingual teaching. So this entire controversy over the issue is really not needed," said Dr Pegu.

He further said that the government was considering the proposal to impart teaching in the local language so that both students and teachers could understand each other. The government was also mulling bringing out a handbook for teachers to help them teach better in the local language of the area where they are posted.

On the other hand, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Aminul Islam also moved for an adjournment motion to discuss the eviction drives carried out recently in sar sapori areas and the condition of the evicted families. Bringing in the motion, Islam said, "It has been observed that these eviction drives were targeted at a particular community. The evicted people are mostly landless people. Flood and erosion force them to settle in different areas. After the eviction, they have nowhere to go now. The government has not taken steps for their rehabilitation."

The Speaker rejected this adjournment motion also and said that this issue could be taken up for discussion in the House through another device. Unhappy with the Speaker's move, the AIUDF staged a walkout.

Also read:  Supplementary demands placed on the first day of autumn session of Assam Assembly

Also Watch: