Rs 1 crore each for 800 JSKs in 800 tea gardens granted
Guwahati: Ushering in a new era of academic excellence in tea plantation areas of Assam, the State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday dedicated 96 newly built model high schools in tea garden localities at a function held in Sonitpur.
Sarma inaugurated Tezpur-Ghogora and Rupajuli tea garden model school, Sonajuli tea garden model high school, Nahoroni model high school, Phulbari and Thakurbari model high school. It may be noted that the ministers, Parliamentarians, legislators, etc will inaugurate these schools in their respective jurisdiction by this month.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarma said that to use education as a tool to bring about overall development of the people belonging to tea garden areas, the government for the first time set up model high schools in those localities. These schools will be able to impart qualitative and value-based education to the students to help them to bring laurels to Assam, he added.
As many as 14,594 students have enrolled their names in these 96 model schools where the government has appointed eight faculty members in each school. Stating that these schools will be named after great personalities belonging to the tea communities, Sarma added that the model school in Tezpur-Ghogora has been named after Swahid Mangri Orang. Similarly, Rupajuli tea garden model school has been named after Amiyo Kumar Das and Sonajuli model high school after Swahid Hemlal Kalandi.
From the coming academic session, all the model high schools will be upgraded to higher secondary schools, stated Sarma, adding that from the next session, Mathematics as well as Science will be taught in English and Social Studies to be taught in Assamese medium in these schools. For their management, rupees one lakh each has already been earmarked. Students there will be entitled to free textbooks, mid-day meals and also uniforms.
In presence of State minister Ashok Singhal, Parliamentarian Pallab Lochan Das, legislators Krishna Kamal Tanti, Prithvi Raj Rabha, Ganesh Limbu with other dignitaries, Sarma called upon guardians of the students to send their wards to schools to ensure a bright future. He also announced that for setting up Jagannath Sewa Kendra in tea plantation areas, the government will provide rupees 800 crore (one crore to each tea garden).
