Dwaipayan Dasgupta
(dwaipayan204@gmail.com)
Assam is one among the Northeastern states that have, for a pretty long
time, been afflicted with a multitude of reasonably ungovernable issues. One such intractable issue that needs mention here has been the diverse challenges in the vernacular-medium schools, especially in urban areas of the state. But the state government is trying its best to tackle them, one such barrier is the issue of students’ enrolment which is the cornerstone of the existence of an educational institution, necessary reforms notwithstanding. In the past few years, it has been observed that in almost all higher secondary and high schools in most towns and cities in the state, including Guwahati, there are fresh TET-qualified, graduate, postgraduate and even B.Ed-educated teachers to teach students at the secondary and higher secondary levels. Remarkably, many of them are even English-medium school educated. Furthermore, many of them have acquired necessary teachers’ training. In trying to strengthen the enrolment and ensure the retention of existing students in schools, authorities, especially members of the Managing Committee of a few schools in the urban areas of the state, due to the fund deficit of the schools, arrange school buses on their own for the students. They collectively spend Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 per month towards the bus services. This transport service is intended to provide to those students belonging to underprivileged sections of society to ensure that they seamlessly attend the school regularly on time. Notably, the school bus picks up the students from the locations near their dwelling houses. Notwithstanding this transport facility being provided by the authorities to those students from economically weak families who are living away from their schools, some of them do not turn up daily on the school bus to contribute to the livelihood of their family. But this is not the case in respect of those educational institutions which are located in such localities which are far beyond a city or town because there is a strong concentration of families with poor financial backgrounds there where children get admitted to schools in an academic year. There are a few vernacular-medium high schools located in the fringe areas of Guwahati where getting admission in lower classes at the beginning of an academic year is a daunting task unless a child is intelligent and has creative power because the schools are filled with students. With the teaching staff of these institutions known to be sincere and dedicated, their pass percentage of matriculation examinations is very good. Look at Kahilipara High School located in the Kalapahar area, which has a large number of students on its roll. Every year, many students of this institution fare well in the HSLC examination, some passing with distinction, thus fetching it good name and fame.
For enhancing enrolment and the retention of the schools, a mid-day meal is served on the part of the state government to them during the recess period. But for the past few years, it has been observed that a good number of students in some schools in urban areas are unwilling to take a midday meal. Having seen them unwilling to eat it, some teachers bring sumptuous food for them from their homes, which students eat. But what is frustrating is that despite these amenities being made readily available to the students, some of them, after the midday meal, play truant. Of course, they play vanishing acts to run petty shops their parents own to eke out the living of their families.
Strengthening the enrolment of students in the urban areas’ schools is possible if the state government focuses on immediately addressing certain crucial issues involving the students’ academic preparation and their growth in this realm. Many schools are in need of funds for infrastructure. So, the state government’s responsibility is releasing necessary funds in a reasonable time frame for the construction of new school buildings and the repair and renovation of schools, particularly those institutions in both urban and rural areas, which are in a ramshackle condition. The turnaround in the situation is a dire need to ensure a learning ambience for all school students. Side by side, there ought to be provision for an internet class for higher-class students to download learning materials. Periodic teacher training is also urgent and necessary so that they can be well-prepared to not just offer much-needed quality education to the students but also enhance their knowledge. Indeed, it has been revealed by an empirical study that a student’s school education largely hinges on two factors. One is the active participation of parents and teachers in the students’ educational development. If their participation is active, students’ performance can be encouraging. Likewise, the relation between students and school authorities should be close. Secondly, emphasis should be laid on the issue of pupil-teacher ratio, which is crucial to notch up better education. In other words, a balanced PTR contributes to ensuring a close relation between student and teacher which, in turn, creates a much-needed favourable learning environment. Therefore, it is the bounden duty of the state government to try and address the high PTR issue. It is indeed good that the government has recently launched recruitment drives to fill up teacher vacancies in schools in rural and urban areas. This is a well-considered move to ramp up enrolment and ensure the retention of the students of a concerned school. Or, else, an over-crowded class-room poses several challenges. Teachers, for instance, who are already burdened with other assignments, will find it difficult to give individual attention to each student they deserve, more so if most students are in dull brain. If that is the case, enhancing enrolment and retention of students is a well-known difficulty, though it is much too important to ensure the existence of a vernacular school. To justify this viewpoint, as per a media report, as many as 209 schools in the state have recently been closed, which are attributed to such factors as low enrolment and economic constraints. It is laudable that the government has implemented a policy of “school rationalisation”, merging schools with low enrolment to save resources.
While teachers’ recruitment is crucial, it should be accompanied by efforts to develop infrastructure and provide high-quality teacher training. Teacher training is a must so that they can impart better education. There are many schools in rural areas which lack basic needs such as adequate classrooms, access to the internet, and sanitation. The programme of the state government should address these challenges at an early date to brighten the future of school education.