Rs 17,000-crore allocation for implementation: Education Minister Ranoj Pegu

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu on Friday informed the Assam Assembly that the State has already started the process of implementing the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 and budgetary allocation of Rs 17,000 crore would boost effective NEP implementation.

Responding to discussions by the ruling and opposition MLAs on the budgetary provisions for education in the State Budget for 2021-22, Dr Pegu hailed Finance Minister Ajanta Neog for making such a huge allocation of funds in the State Budget to implement the NEP, 2020. He said implementation of the NEP will be a long process.

As the NEP 2020 envisages the setting up of universities in all districts in the country Dr Pegu informed the House that five new varsities would be set up in the State at the cost of Rs 50 crore each. He said the State Government would also make Assam Women's University in Jorhat and the Assam Rajiv Gandhi University of Cooperative Management in Sivasagar more progressive.

The Education Minister said 2,500 lower primary and Middle English schools in the State would be converted into centres of excellence. For this, each school will receive Rs 50 lakh for overall development.

Dr Pegu said as per instruction of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma the Education department has selected 209 high and higher secondary schools to give Rs 3 crore each for infrastructure development as they have completed 75 years of their existence. He said the CM's instruction is in connection with the plan to celebrate India's 75th year of independence in 2022.

Since the NEP has given the thrust of pre-primary education the Education department has decided to upgrade the Anganwadi centres in the State. Some of these centres will have Rs 25 lakh promoting pre-primary education, he said.

"As per the NEP 2020, only the integrated Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) degree is mandatory for appointment of teachers from 2030. So, the government has given its approval to the existing 71 colleges to introduce the integrated B. Ed course," Dr Pegu said.

Dr Pegu also informed the Assembly that his department has 22,921 new posts of teachers for LP and ME schools in the State. The appointment process will start soon, he said.

The Education Minister said that new software will be launched soon in the State to enable teachers to apply online for transfer and postings. He said recommendations of MLAs will not be entertained in case of teachers transfer. The transfer will be done to maintain a healthy teacher-student ratio, Dr Pegu said.

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