Teacher Shortage and Bodo Accord Issues Dominate Question Hour in Assam Assembly

Guwahati: Issues surrounding teacher shortages, provincialisation of schools, and the implementation of Clause 6.3 of the Bodo Accord dominated discussions during the Question Hour on the third day of the Assam Assembly session. Members raised questions on the progress of model schools in tea garden areas as well as on the concerns affecting schools in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and Bodo-medium schools located outside BTC.

Raising the matter, MLA Lawrence Islary reminded the House that the BTR Accord was reached after extensive deliberations with the state and central governments to restore peace in a conflict-affected region. He said that years of unrest had stalled development and prevented the provincialisation of many schools in BTR.

Responding to the queries, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu explained that the existing provincialisation law allows its application to Sixth Schedule areas through official notification. However, he said that many schools in BTR lack the necessary documents and eligibility criteria because of the region’s troubled past.

“The BTC may frame its own provincialisation law. Once that is done and schools are brought under its purview, we will notify and provincialise them with full support,” Pegu added.

MLA Robiram Narzary further pointed out that Clause 6.3 covers Bodo-medium schools outside BTC, many of which continue to operate in poor conditions. Pegu informed the House that the BTC is compiling a report on these schools, but clarified that only institutions established before January 1, 2006, qualify under the existing law.

He reiterated that while the government acknowledges the concerns raised through the Bodo Accord, any step toward provincialisation must comply with legal provisions unless new legislation is introduced.

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