Assam to Open 80 New Schools in Tea Garden Areas

Rapid Summary

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the opening of 80 more model schools in tea garden areas, following the inauguration of 118 such schools since November 2022.
• The government aims too establish a total of 200 model schools across 800 tea estates in Assam to improve education quality for tea garden communities.
• Initiatives planned include:

– Mid-day meals extended to students from Classes IX and X.
– Smart boards and smart classrooms introduced in the model schools.
– One-year compulsory apprentice training for B.ed students in these institutions.
– Provision of bicycles for Class VI students onwards, along with a School breakfast Program and mandatory health checkups.

• Greater efforts will be made to achieve diversity by encouraging student enrollment from various communities.
• Teachers’ service conditions and school infrastructure in tea garden educational institutions will be further enhanced.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Himanta Biswa Sarma’s announcement reflects the Assam government’s proactive stance towards improving education accessibility and infrastructure for marginalized tea garden communities. The decision to extend mid-day meals, introduce modern technology like smart boards, provide bicycles, ensure compulsory apprentice training, and promote health initiatives underscores a holistic approach to addressing both educational disparities and socio-economic hardships faced by these communities.

If implemented successfully, this program coudl not only elevate academic performance but also foster greater inclusivity through community diversity within schools-an important step toward harmonious societal integration. However, sustaining such efforts depends on robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure desired outcomes from investments into targeted infrastructure upgrades and teacher welfare development.

For more information: The Hindu