Dispur suspends move to allow SEBA schools to migrate to CBSE

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Oct 2: The Assam government has filly put on hold its last year’s policy decision to allow around 50 schools affiliated to the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) to switch over to the Central board CBSE, following widespread protests and adverse public reaction.

Fince & Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while presenting the State Budget in the Assembly last year, had announced the government’s decision — as a matter of policy — to allow at least 50 SEBA affiliated schools to go over into CBSE’s fold on the ground of academic excellence. Sarma argued that since major chunk of SEBA students fail to do well in all-India level competitive exams due to differences in teaching methodology, curriculum and evaluation system between the State & Central boards, the government has felt the need to allow maximum number of SEBA-affiliated schools to switch over to the CBSE.  

Sarma’s announcement drew widespread protests and adverse public reaction. The All Assam Students Union (AASU) launched a State-wide agitation accusing Dispur of hatching a conspiracy to destroy SEBA. Prominent persolities from different walks of life demanded immediate scrapping of such move.

SEBA officials and employees had also opposed the move and submitted memoranda to Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal and the Education Minister, stating that schools affiliated to the State Board have been following textbooks recommended by the NCERT for English, General Mathematics and General Science for Classes IX and X. They said textbooks followed by SEBA schools not only explain the subjects in all-India perspective but also reflect the local culture, tradition, environment and ethos of the State. SEBA also gives students the option of choosing a subject like History, Geography or Fine Arts as an elective subject

“The Education Department has filly decided to put its move on hold and adopt a wait and watch policy.  If any school wants to switch over to CBSE on its own, the government will not put any restriction. But the Education Department will not promote any school to move into CBSE’s fold as a policy,” a source in Education Department clarified.

Sources said in between 2010 and 2017, the number of schools applying to the Education Department seeking No Objection Certificate (NOC) to migrate to the CBSE has been minimal. Earlier (prior to 2010), the Education Department used to receive minimum 10 such applications every month on average. There are reports that a few of the leading schools which migrated to CBSE have come to regret their decision after seeing no significant progress in their students’ academic performances.

With the SEBA currently initiating several far-reaching reforms successfully in conducting exams and evaluation, sources expressed confidence that the trend of migration to CBSE will go down further.