GUWAHATI: Emphasising on skill development training of students, the state government is set to establish six skill development centres for higher secondary students, informed officials.
Speaking during a programme on June 14, chairman of the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), Dayananda Borgohain, informed that the council has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Art of Living Foundation to initially set up six centres. The authorities will then open a skill development centre in every district.
“Now teaching on handloom will also be made compulsory in all higher secondary schools in rural areas,” added Borgohain.
The authorities also informed that setting up of kitchen gardens in all schools will be made mandatory. “These kitchen gardens will use organic manure and compost,” said Borgohain.
The government plans to introduce another compulsory subject on agriculture, informed officials. Science teachers will be trained for the same.
On the other hand, state education minister, Siddhartha Bhattacharya, stressed on ensuring proper mentorship for students who fail to achieve high marks or the first division in their secondary examinations.
He said that if the students who have secured second or third division are not able to receive quality education in the state with colleges setting high cut off marks, it will hamper the overall development of the education scenario in the state.
“Such students will not even be able to get access to the application form to get admission in colleges for class 11 and 12. Students who score second or third division, constitute more than 50% of the total, what will be their future?” said Bhattacharya urging the teachers and principals to give this issue a thought.
The minister added that the hard work and efforts put in by teachers to prepare students for examinations is not reflected in the results of class 10 and 12.
This year, the overall pass percentage in Assam for the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Class 10 examinations remained at 56.04%. Further, 59% boys and 53.2% girls passed the boards this year whereas a total of 67.15% students were successful in Kamrup (Metro) district.
“We must also check if your hard work is being received by the students and if there is some noticeable change in the marks. We will have to focus more on bettering the results of class 11 and 12 because only then can the students get admissions in the courses and professions of their choice based on these marks,” Bhattacharya urged the teachers.
At the programme organised at B Borooah College, the education minister inaugurated the free textbooks distribution scheme for class 11 and 12 students.
Speaking during the occasion, the minister called for making Guwahati a sought-after destination in the country to pursue higher education.
Stressing on providing quality education in schools and colleges in Assam, the minister said that the authorities must strive towards creating an educational environment wherein students from across the country could come to pursue their higher education.
“Children from our state shouldn’t have to go to other places like Kota to undertake coaching for various professional courses. Instead we should make Guwahati equipped for people from across the country to pursue their higher education here.”
He also thanked the Assam State Textbook Production and Publication Corporation Limited for delivering free textbooks before the beginning of the academic year this time.
“Last year, we saw that the book distribution was delayed by a few months even as the classes had begun in schools and colleges causing inconvenience to students. But this time we were able to give the books before time,” said Bhattacharya.
Further, commenting on this year’s AHSEC results, Borgohain said that he was happy to see that the talent has been distributed across the state and was not only concentrated in Guwahati.
“Other districts which did not used to perform well earlier had produced toppers this time, which is a good development,” said the AHSEC chairman.
He added that it was the responsibility of the teachers to ensure better results of the students who could not perform well in their class 12 examinations.
Earlier, unhappy with the government’s decision to publish and distribute free textbooks, All Assam Publishers and Book Sellers Association (AAPBSA) had called a four-day state-wide strike against the state government’s decision.