Assam will implement new education policy from January: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Himanta: We've chalked out plans to open educational institutions from September 1

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the State government will be ready with a blueprint for implementation of the NEP (New Education Policy) 2020 by December this year, besides a plan to open schools and colleges in the State from September 1.

Talking to the media here on Saturday, Sarma said, "A 40-member committee headed by the Principal Secretary, Education has been already formed. The committee will be split into smaller groups and each of the groups will study a particular aspect or sector of education. The groups will suggest as to how and when the institutions should be opened. Such groups will submit their reports by December 31, 2020. This'll let us implement NEP 2020 by January 2021.

"Some of the recommendations of the NEP 2020 are already in practice in Assam. We're spending around Rs 21,500 crore – 5.8 per cent of the State's DGP – annually on education at present. We need to increase it to six per cent. Mother tongue, according to NEP 2020, is to be the medium of instruction till Class-V. This is certainly going to boost the future of smaller languages and dialects."

On opening schools and colleges in the State, Sarma said, "We're mentally prepared to open the educational institutions across the State from September 1. This is, however, subject to approval from the Government of India and nod from guardians. We're going to receive suggestions from students' parents or guardians through the website till August 20, 2020. We'll upload the plan we've chalked out for opening classes in the website for the knowledge of guardians.

"There's no reason to take classes up to Class-IV till September. All staff members, both teaching and non-teaching, have to undergo mandatory corona test from August 23-30. The results of their tests will also be uploaded in the website.

"From Class V-VIII, the classes will be under the open sky – either in school fields or any suitable village playgrounds, especially in rural areas. Each group should be of 15 students. Classes for IX and XI will be inside schools, but only two days a week. Each group shouldn't exceed 15 students and the duration of teaching will be three hours. There will be four days classes a week for students of Classes X and XII. Each group is to comprise not more than 15 students and three hours of teaching. Making arrangement of the time for each group of students is up to the school authorities. In colleges, classes of only the final-year students should continue. Universities being autonomous bodies, it is up to the Vice Chancellors to make the plan."

The Minister painted a rosy picture when he said that the process for provincialization of 197 high schools, nine higher secondary schools, 149 junior colleges and 30 new colleges will start from August 15, 2020 even as the provincialization will be effective from January next year. Likewise, the construction of 119 high schools in the tea estates will start from October 2, 2020 with the target of starting classes from the coming academic session, he said. "Altogether 16 colleges will start the Science stream from this academic session. Since schools and colleges have been closed for a long time, the SEBA (Board of Secondary Education, Assam) and the AHSEC (Assam Higher Secondary Education Council) have been asked to shrink the syllabi to an extent," he said.

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