Assam govt plans to reopen schools, colleges from September 1

The Assam government is planning to reopen schools, colleges and other educational institutes across the state from September 1.

“We have been planning to open the schools from September 1. But the final decision will be taken by the central government,” said health and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The minister mentioned that testing of COVID-19 for the teachers under the government of Assam will be made mandatory within August 23-30. However, the schools up to class 4 will remain closed.

Sarma further announced that the state government has decided to provincialise several schools, colleges and posts of teachers soon. The first list includes 355 high schools, junior colleges, 3,359 teachers under directorate of senior secondary, 30 colleges, 931 college teachers including left over teachers.

Meanwhile, the education minister has termed the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which was approved by the union cabinet recently as a historic decision. He said that the NEP will revolutionise the education system in the country.

“Under NEP, no student up to class 12 will be deprived of education. They will get all the facilities,” Sarma said.

He also stated that a structural reform is the need of the hour to implement the new education policy.

“We are forming a 40-member committee to study the implementation of the National Education Policy. The committee will start functioning within seven days. I hope they will prepare their recommendations by December 31,” Sarma said.