Many People Criticized The Assam Government’s Decision To Eliminate 8,000 Teaching Positions

Despite the fact that the decision was made six months ago, it has been heavily criticized by organizations representing all industries and ethnic groups.

The state government’s election pledge was to give jobs to the 1 lakh unemployed young people in Assam, but in practice, it seems that they are working in the exact other direction.

The Assam government’s plan to unilaterally eliminate the positions of 8,000 primary school teachers has drawn a severe and critical response from the Assam State Primary Teachers’ Association (ASPTA), which asserts that the positions are vacant. Dr. Bijaya Choudhary, secretary to the Assam government, officially declared the decision made by the Assam cabinet on May 26, 2020, on November 7, 2022.

Incredibly, 3,716 schools in the state are being run with just one teacher, according to a recent survey by the Assam State Primary Teachers Association (ASPTA) in March 2022. The survey found that 1,664 lower primary schools in the state are operating in a single room. 33,829 lower primary schools spread throughout 51 sub-divisions and all 32 districts of the state were surveyed. The report also reveals that thousands of schools in Assam lack sanitization facilities and that 10,000 lower primary schools lack an electricity connection.

Following the education secretary’s announcement, Assam’s state education minister, Ranoj Pegu, confirmed the choice and provided some vague but motivating justifications. He claimed that the elimination of these positions was done to prevent financial neutrality and deception.

Assamese circles have reacted with outrage and criticism to the Assam government’s decision. Tragically, however, neither the political opposition in the state nor any protests or agitations have been started.

However, the Students Federations of India (SFI) and DYFI have announced plans to start agitations in addition to issuing statements. DYFI Assam state secretary Ritu Ranjan Das and SFI spokesperson Sangita Das have jointly issued a press release. In spite of the fact that thousands of TET candidates had their hopes set on jobs as teachers, the government has decided to strike at the educated youth of the state, according to the statement. The declaration also makes the claim that excessive spending and unplanned and unproductive sectors are to blame for the state government’s dire financial situation. This is what prompted the state’s BJP government to eliminate the permanent teaching positions. The DYFI and SFI have stated that if the BJP-led Assam government does not reverse the anti-education and anti-employment policy, they will shortly begin protests.

Both organizations have also urged TET applicants, teachers, and other concerned citizens to protest the government’s obstinate choice.

According to the All Assam Students Union (AASU), the BJP government in Assam has effectively put an end to the state’s vernacular medium institutions.

It will be interesting to see if the Assam government caves into public condemnation and outrage given that teachers, youth, and left-wing organizations have united to articulate an opposition.

News Mania Desk