Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the Gunotsav initiative may be boycotted by other officials but a teacher will never do so.
The Assam CM was attending the Gunotsav award distribution event organised at the Veterinary College field in Guwahati’s Khanapara.
Speaking there, the CM Sarma said, “It is the duty of a teacher to provide the documents relating to a school when an official asks for it.”
He then expressed dissatisfaction at the fact that many schools are shutting down and said, “Schools have started to shut down and this is mostly due to low attendance of students. We must strive towards getting more students enrolled so that the schools do not have to shut down.”
Talking on the amalgamation of schools, he said that if the schools are maintained and run well with students attending classes and scoring good marks then amalgamation will not be required.
The Assam CM then observed that many government departments stop functioning at the silliest of reasons. He said, “Departments want to stop work stating that there are problems in Assam. You can't stop work because there are problems.”
He also highlighted another problem saying that teachers want to work near to their places of residence or origin. CM Sarma said, “Teachers want to work wherever they want. If this continues then there will be no teachers in the hilly and char regions.”
Moreover, he informed that the most expenditure of state’s finances are in the sectors of health and education. However, many parents do not send their children to schools on occasions like Christmas which is a loss for them and the state, he opined.
In addition, many government employees indulge in corrupt practices when it comes to paying the school fees of their children, the CM said.
CM Sarma said, “Students from Assam rarely excel in competitive exams. Schools should ensure that meritorious students are guided well and are made more competitive.”
Highlighting a harsh fact, the Assam CM mentioned that around 16 per cent students drop out of schools at standards five to six. He also announced that in the coming year, schools will be provided with tablets in order to prize them away from private institutes.
Meanwhile, with the aim of creating a healthy competition, the Assam CM also announced that those institutes that are able to secure A+ grade in the second Gunotsav will be awarded with Rs 50,000.
In addition, those schools will get an addition faculty member and two of their staple and contractual teachers will be given permanent employment, CM Sarma announced.
