Plea to Education Minister: Letters to The Editor

Plea to Education Minister

First of all, we would like to heartily congratulate Dr RANOJ PEGU for the prestigious position of Education Minister of Assam. We are so much grateful to have a dynamic and determined person like you as our leader in the field of Education. We have full faith that under your leadership and guidance, every section of the Education Department will bloom its prosperity in all fields. Through this letter, we want to shed some light on some important topics from CTET-passed candidates' point of view.

It is seen from last 2012, both Assam TET and Central TET(CTET)-passed candidates are allowed to take part in the teacher recruitment process of the State. In addition, in the first phase of the 2019 Assam teacher recruitment process, all CTET-passed candidates applied too. However, in the second phase of the recruitment, CTET-passed candidates were not allowed to participate in the process. Sir, you are aware that the Gauhati High Court gave a judgement in favour of Assam's CTET-qualified candidates. As you are also aware that Assam TET and CTET, are usually conducted under the guidelines of the NCERT. That is why there is not much difference between these two recruitment processes. Sir, if one state conducts TET for at least one time in the whole year, it is fully upon the State's concern whether to allow CTET-qualified candidates or not. Due to this, the State of Assam had not allowed CTET candidates to participate in the second phase of the recruitment. We respect the State's decision sir. Now it has been two years since the last TET was conducted. Therefore, we want to beg you not to deprive us off of the upcoming advertisement. Again, as we are by birth Assamese, we had selected the first Language as Assamese in the CTET application, because of what we are unable to apply in the other States too. Many poor but talented candidates have cleared CTET having financial restraints in getting B.Ed and D. El. Ed. Their hopes are with you, sir. Many others who had just entered in B. Ed or D. El. Ed on in their first year of B. Ed or D. El. Ed during 2019 left out from the recruitment process at that time. Now, they have also cleared CTET with good marks. And also some of the CTET-passed candidates are now getting older and they may not be eligible for the upcoming recruitment process too. They are in a state of depression thinking about their future.

Therefore, we would like to look into this matter as soon as possible and treat us based on merit in the selection process for the upcoming teacher recruitment of Assam.

On behalf of CTET-passed candidates

Kangana Baishya,

Bhawanipur, Bajali

Development priorities

I am a senior citizen and permanent resident of Guwahati, aged 79 and under compelling circumstances. I am residing in Jaipur for the last seven months. I retired as a Joint Secretary, Assam Government in 2001, after rendering 38 years of useful services. From day one, I am a reader of The Sentinel, barring the period spent outside the State. The day before yesterday two news came to my notice that the Chief Minister directed the PWD to complete the flyovers in Guwahati and another news that he visited your office to seek cooperation in the development of Assam. His dynamism and nature of working have been always appreciable, and I want to bring to his notice one or two suggestions that need to be dealt with on a priority basis. While appreciating the need for the completion of flyovers, to be the priority of the Government should be tackling the recurring floods and embankment problems. The next priority should be jerking up the Jal Board to immediately complete the water supply schemes of Guwahati, which is a matter of shame for Assam, despite having so much water in the Brahmaputra. Here in Jaipur, there is no abundance of water but people are getting enough potable water. Also, the otherwise dry place is slowly turning green with regular planting of trees and watering through tankers. In contrast, in Guwahati trees are planted every year just to die for no aftercare.

PK Gupta,

Camp Jaipur.

HSLC examinations

It is because of the spread of Coronavirus in Assam, the holding of the HSLC examinations has got delayed. However, the SEBA is said to be ready to conduct the 2021- HSLC examination immediately after the slowdown of the virus in the State. What we have learnt is that the SEBA is thinking to hold the coming HSLC examination on three papers only as against the total of six papers. Further, the SEBA has said that the examinees would be allowed to choose any three subjects out of a total of six papers. Here, we have a request to make before the SEBA is that it should hold the examination on all six papers even with fewer marks in each paper. Further, we appeal to the SEBA not to undermine the importance and relevance of the core subjects like Mathematics, Science and English. At least, the SEBA should never think to omit Mathematics, Science and English subjects from the 2021- HSLC examinations. Moreover, many serious examinees appearing for the 2021- HSLC examination will feel depressed if they are not tested on important subjects like English, Mathematics and Science in their HSLC examinations. It is the moral duty of the SEBA to value the sentiments of the examinees of the 2021-HSLC examination of Assam.

Maheswar Deka,

Rangia

Inter-dist travel ban

The Government of Assam is planning to ban the inter-district movement of people for 15 days from next Friday. It is a welcome move. It will help break the chain of COVID-19. But so far no decision has been taken to impose a full lockdown in the State. That is why I would like the people to wear face masks, maintain social distancing and sanitization and frequent hand wash and other protocol.

Putul Sarma,

Biswanath Chariali

SP Anand Mishra

Anand Mishra, an IPS officer, recently transferred to Nagaon from Dhubri as the Superintendent of Police, and who is in news for his bravado and sense of duty attracts everybody's attention. At a time when public perceptions of police continue to erode in our society, it must be civic-mindedness and citizen-friendly initiatives taken by Mishra that he has been able to garner this much applause and acclaim from public. The passionate entreaties of the people to extend his service in Dhubri and their showering him with enormous love and respect while bidding adieu to him have indeed shown the tangible impact people-centric policing can create.

It seems he is bent on bringing about social change by promoting public safety and upholding the rule of law which is the sole purpose of law enforcement in a free society. That every public servant cares to take a leaf out of Mishra's book and tries to build positive relationships with the community and respect civil liberties is the need of the hour. What Sir Robert Peel, the Father of modern policing, said is worth mentioning here- "The police are the public and the public are the police".

Dipen Gogoi,

Teok, Jorhat

Brightening lives

It is a laudable move by the women self-help groups in Uttar Pradesh to manufacture solar lamps and distribute them to children in rural areas of the state at a reasonably low cost with the help of the State government and the CSR Fund. The solar lamps are made available to the school children by the Government for Rs 100 per piece against their market rate of a whopping Rs 500 per piece. The women also carry out the repair work if needed. This initiative is part of the Prerna Ojas Program of Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission that helps women in self-help groups to become self-reliant. Hope that the solar lamps help children to pursue education. The self-help groups empower the deprived sections of society by brightening their lives.

Amit Singh Kushwaha,

Satna (M.P.)

Book fair

at Joymati Pathar

Book fair is very important because it mainly helps in gaining in popularity of books in very short periods and among many youths. After all, online books are not so much interesting and it does not lead to any popularity. But the book fair that was organised in Tezpur Assam at Joymati Pathar is a very good and successful one because it attracted many youths of Tezpur. I think that these types of book fairs should also be held in different parts of the country to increase the reading of books rather than that of online reading.

Manish Kashyap,

Tezpur

Be prepared

We have been witnessing a large number of deaths caused by the non-availability of oxygen to Covid patients. It's time to unitedly fight against the life-threatening virus. It's high time we stayed strong and prepared to face any situation in the coming days because we never know what is next.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog