With the avowed mission to create better educational opportunities for children, especially those residing in areas adjacent to the tea gardens, Ministers of the Assam Government inaugurated 38 schools over a seven-day period across the State. Out of the 38 schools, 19 are located in and around the vicinity of tea gardens keeping in mind the historical challenges that children from these families face while pursuing their education.
The first two out of the 38 schools were inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma at Rang Mahal in North Guwahati on June 19. The Rangmahal Higher Secondary School (SEBA and AHSEC courses) will impart education in Assamese medium while Adarsh Vidyalaya will impart education in English medium and is affiliated to CBSE. Interestingly, both are housed in the same campus.
Speaking on the occasion, the Assam Chief Minister said that inauguration of two schools in the same building, one in CBSE and other in SEBA at Rangmahal, would encourage healthy competition in the campus. He said that the 19 Adarsha Vidyalayas, which were to be inaugurated during the next few days, will impart lessons in English medium while the other 19 schools in tea garden areas will be imparting instructions in the Assamese language.
Dr. Sarma said that the Government’s effort in establishing CBSE schools will accord an opportunity to those from the weaker sections of society to pursue their education in English medium.
Welcoming the development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Commendable initiative. Education is the bedrock of a prosperous nation, and these new secondary schools will provide a strong foundation for the youth. Especially pleased to hear about the commitment towards the tea garden areas.”
The Assam Chief Minister said that the State Government will set up Adarsha Vidyalayas in 126 Assembly constituencies of which construction of 55 schools has been completed while work was in progress in the remaining ones.
“All the Adarsha Vidyalayas will have smart classrooms, with science laboratories, computer laboratories, libraries, etc. These schools will be enabled with ‘Project Child’, a mission to facilitate mental and physical development of the students,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that the Assam Government is planning to revamp 2,000 vernacular medium schools with a financial outlay of ₹ 10 cr for each school.
He also distributed free text books to the students of Adarsha Vidyalaya on the occasion.
On June 19, Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu inaugurated an Adarsha Vidyalaya at Nahartoli Tea Garden in Dibrugarh and the Bhitor Chabua TE Model School. Union Minister Rameshwar Teli was present during the opening of the school in Chabua. Dr Pegu also inaugurated Romai TE Model School at Lahowal in Dibrugarh district.
The new Adarsha Vidyalayas are located in Goalpara, Barpeta, Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Sonitpur, Dhubri, Cachar, Charaideo, Sivasagar and Lakhimpur districts.
On the same day, Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary opened an Adarsha Vidyalaya at Hajo in Kamrup district while his Cabinet colleague and State Agriculture Minister Atul Borah inaugurated the Madhupur TE Model School in Dhemaji district. Whereas State P&RD Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass inaugurated the “Gobardhana Adarsha Vidyalaya” at Sorbhog in Barpeta district, the State Health Minister Keshab Mahanta opened an Adarsha Vidyalaya at Demow in Sivasagar. Later, State Finance Minister Ajanta Neog inaugurated the Mahmora Model School in Charaideo district while State PHE Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah inaugurated a model school called Chapar Tea Estate Model School in Dhubri district .
