When the then Principal Secretary, Education, Government of Assam, B Kalyan Chakravarthy took charge of the Department in February 2020, the Assam Chief Minister had laid down a two-point agenda: Improvement in administrative standards of schools and improvement in quality of education imparted. The officer instantly realised that an improvement in attendance mechanism should be the starting point of this overhaul. Manual audit and bio metrics were immediately ruled out because of the cumbersome process and cost associated with them respectively. When Covid struck in March 2020, he started interacting with the teachers on WhatsApp to know their difficulties and the way they were imparting education. “It struck me that if we could get real time data on teachers, students and other relevant issues, administration can certainly be improved. This is where the seeds of Shiksha Setu Axom app germinated and today we are here,” the senior IAS officer told Asom Barta.
After ups and downs; highs and lows, a legal battle in the High Court, the app was finally introduced. “Without the backing from the Hon’ble Chief Minister, the Education Minister and my colleagues in the Education Department, it would not have been impossible,” he said.
Parents are now among the happier lot for they can sense that the Government is keen to deliver quality education to their wards. One such parent is Narayan Nath of Borigaon in Morigaon. “I have seen a change in the attitude of teachers, students and administrators of my son Himangshu’s school, Rangadaria Higher Secondary School. There is a greater sense of urgency among teachers, students and, even parents, after the introduction of this app,” Nath, a trader, told this reporter. ‘‘I am now thinking of admitting my daughter in a Government school.”
Himangshu even cited the example of his classmate, who used to remain absent most times, now attending school regularly because the app became operational in his school.
Principal (In-charge) of Ghilaguri Katashbari Higher Secondary School in Bongaigaon, Debajit Baruah, is all praises for the app, and its goals. (Shared with Asom Barta by SSA MD Dr Om Prakash). Baruah termed it as a game changer in education. “It has raised awareness among parents and made students and teachers extra responsible,” he told this newsletter, adding that a new relationship has developed between teachers, administrators and guardians because of the app.
An assistant teacher in the same school Dhanjit Nath cited increasing attendance in school once the app became fully functional.
For its functional efficiency, the app has enabled Samagra Shiksha Assam to win the coveted gold medal in the National e-Governance Award announced by the Central Government. This prompted an immediate response from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma: “Congratulations to Samagra Shiksha for winning the ‘Gold Award’ at the National Awards for e-Governance
2023-24 for Shiksha Setu Axom! This recognition highlights the Govt of Assam’s dedication to digitising services, enhancing transparency, and streamlining the education sector.”
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu who was a force behind the implementation of the app also shared his happiness at the achievement of his Department. “I am glad to share that the Government of India, in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, has selected ‘Shiksha Setu Axom’ for the National Awards for e-Governance for the year 2024. The award will be conferred to Samagra Shiksha Assam during the 27th National Conference on e-Governance on 08th and 09th August 2024 in Mumbai.’’
