Guwahati: Assam’s 97 newly established model high schools in tea-garden areas along with other 13 other model schools across Assam will begin the academic year from 10 May. Addressing the principals and teachers of those model high schools during an orientation program in the city recently, State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma commented that it’s a landmark step and new beginning for the tea-plantation families.
It may be mentioned that the State government in Dispur with a view to augment the academic environment in the tea-garden areas took the step for setting up 119 model high schools, out of which 97 schools have already been completed, and academic session for the year 2022-23 in these schools will start next month.
He also added that the remaining 22 model high schools in tea-garden areas will be made functional from next academic year. The government is also going to set up another 81 model high schools in those areas and the newly established schools will be upgraded to higher secondary schools later.
“Apart from the mid-day meal, the government is planning to provide breakfast to students at these schools. Presently two kinds of teachers are being appointed in these schools at tea-garden areas, while one set of teachers are recruited specifically for these schools and the rest are transferred and posted there from already provincialised schools,” said Sarma.
As many eligibility test qualified teachers, having post-graduate degrees, are working at primary and middle schools, the government is planning to give them an opportunity to join these tea-garden model high schools with their consent to dedicate their service to tea plantation families. Even though they will continue getting the old salaries, it will give them a better exposure.
Sarma urged the principals and teachers to dedicate themselves to transforming these model high schools into ideal educational institutions. Asking the inspector of schools to make frequent visits to these institutions to support and guide the teachers and the students, Sarma added that the government intends to develop this initiative as a successful model for the rest of the country.
In presence of State education minister Ranoj Pegu, tea-tribes welfare minister Sanjay Kishan, adviser to the education department Nani Gopal Mahanta, SEBA chairman RC Jain with others, Sarma also informed that the government has been working with a vision to set up one model school in each assembly constituency very soon.