GUWAHATI:
The government is keen on using education as a tool to bring about the overall development of the people belonging to tea garden areas, said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, after dedicating 96 newly constructed model high schools in the tea garden areas at a function held in Sonitpur district, on May 25.
Sarma inaugurated the Tezpur-Ghogora and Rupajuli Tea Garden Model school, Sonajuli Tea Garden Model High School, Nahoroni Model High School, Phulbari and Thakurbari Model High School at the function. The institutions are part of the Assam government’s decision to set up 119 model high schools in tea garden areas.
Stating that these schools will be named after great personalities belonging to the tea garden communities who have made immense contributions to the socio-economic and academic development of the tea communities, the chief minister said that the model school in Tezpur-Ghogora has been named after Swahid Mangri Orang, Rupajuli Tea Garden Model school as Amiyo Kumar Das model high school, Sonajuli Tea Garden Model High School as Swahid Hemlal Kalandi Model High school.
He informed that as many as 14,594 students have enrolled in the 96 model schools, and to impart education, eight faculty members have been appointed in each school. Sarma also said that from the coming academic session, all the model high schools will be upgraded to higher secondary schools, and that Mathematics and Science will be taught in English, while Social Studies will be taught in Assamese.
Moreover, a curriculum based on the Assamese medium will also be imparted in these schools to help the young generation gain knowledge both in English and Assamese.
For the management of these schools, Rs 1 lakh each has been earmarked of which Rs 25, 000 each has already been released and the remaining Rs 75, 000 will be released shortly. The students of these schools will be entitled to free textbooks, mid-day meals and uniforms.
Meanwhile, other state ministers, MPs and MLAs have also been inaugurating the schools in their respective jurisdictions and the rest are set to be inaugurated on May 30.