"CM Urges Bihu and Puja Committees to Conduct Special HSLC Classes to Qualify for Grants"

On Sunday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed a gathering at the Golden Jubilee celebration of Chandraprava Bora High School in Azara, where he emphasized the importance of strengthening Assam's education system through community involvement. Sarma urged Bihu and Puja committees across the state to play a role in this initiative by organizing special evening classes for High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) students, particularly those from government schools.

The Chief Minister proposed that these committees host evening classes from 6 pm to 9 pm, with the aim of helping students prepare for their HSLC exams. By leveraging volunteers, the classes would provide crucial academic support to students who might not have access to additional tutoring. Sarma expressed that such efforts would significantly benefit government school students, who often face challenges due to limited resources.

In a move to encourage participation from the committees, Sarma introduced an incentive structure tied to government grants. He announced that only those Bihu and Puja committees that commit to running these evening classes for at least three months annually will be eligible for government funding. This condition will apply before significant events like Bohag Bihu or Puja. The Chief Minister emphasized that without this commitment, committees would not receive any funding. This strategy was designed to ensure that the committees play a sustained role in supporting education, rather than just providing one-off assistance.

To further support this initiative, Sarma revealed that a new scheme would soon be launched to assist with the logistics and funding required to run these evening classes. The government would cover expenses such as the salaries of volunteer teachers, which would help ease the burden on the committees. Sarma stressed the importance of creating a conducive academic environment, linking cultural progress with educational advancement.

The Chief Minister also addressed concerns regarding the recent decline in HSLC pass percentages, attributing it to the shift towards a concept-based education model. Sarma explained that the previous system relied heavily on rote memorization, leaving students unprepared for competitive exams such as the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams. Under the new model, the emphasis is on understanding concepts rather than memorization, which, Sarma believes, will better prepare students for the challenges they face in higher education and professional exams.

In addition to these reforms, Sarma laid out ambitious plans for the overhaul of Assam’s school infrastructure. The state government is set to revamp 4,000 high and higher secondary schools, with an initial focus on 500 schools. Each school will receive Rs 8 crore for improvements, and the total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 32,000 crore. The Chief Minister's goal is to improve the educational infrastructure significantly, with plans to revamp 200 new schools each year, ultimately transforming the state’s educational framework by 2035.

Through these initiatives, Sarma aims to not only enhance the quality of education in Assam but also create an environment where students have access to better facilities, teaching, and support, enabling them to excel in their academic and professional pursuits. These reforms represent a long-term vision for the future of education in Assam, one that prioritizes quality, accessibility, and holistic development.