Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu visits Cachar, inspects schools conducting Gunotsav

Aug. 5: Dr Ranoj Pegu, Education Minister came to Cachar district on Friday and took stock of Gunotsav being conducted at various school over here. In the morning, the Education Minister visited Broja Gobinda School at Salganga. There he interacted with the teachers and students of the school. He also listened to the various suggestions offered by the parents and guardians. Dr Pegu asked a few students to read passages from their Question Booklet of Gunotsav.

On inspection of Broja Gobinda School at Salganga in Udharbond constituency, the Education Minister said, “There are 260 students in this school. But as compared to the enrollment, the class rooms are not sufficient. We have our local MLA, Mihir Kanti Shome. I will discuss this issue with him and come up with a viable solution.”

Later on, speaking with the journalists there at Salganga, Education Minister, Dr Ranoj Pegu said, “Due to flood, Gunotsav was postponed in some of the districts. Gunotsav in few districts of Assam was rescheduled from 3 to 6 August, 2022. These six districts are Cachar, Hailakandi, Dima Hasao, Hojai, South Salmara and Mankachar. Apart from this, the left-out schools of Barpeta, Morigaon, Kamrup and Lakhimpur districts also are conducting Gunotsav. Today I am here in Cachar to personally monitor the conduct of Gunotsav in the schools of Cachar.”

When asked about many schools (more than 700) damaged by the recent flood, Minister Pegu said, “The Government is definitely seriously thinking on this aspect. Initially, we will see as to what extent repairing works can be done in these schools out of the SDRF Fund. The rest will certainly be taken care by the Government.”

The decision of the state government of introduction of English for teaching certain subjects in government schools of Assam has received sharp criticism from the opposition parties. Airing his view on this, Dr Ranoj Pegu said, “The state Cabinet on 28 July, 2022 came up with some historic decisions. Dual medium of instruction to be introduced from Class VI to XII in Assamese & vernacular medium schools under the State Govt. The school authority will be at liberty to introduce English medium without abolishing Assamese or vernacular medium. Five to ten schools in each district shall be identified for introducing dual medium and number of such schools shall be increased gradually depending on outcome of the move.” He further said, “We are not at all abolishing teaching in vernacular medium. But as per the need of the time, we will also be introducing English along with vernacular language.”

The Education Minister on Friday inspected a total of 3 schools where Gunotsav is being conducted. On Saturday, he will be participating in Gunotsav in some schools of Lakhipur constituency.

A total of 2,317 schools in Cachar are participating in Gunotsav, 2022. On the day of Self Evaluation, 88.85 percent students were present in the 2,317 schools of Cachar district. The total enrolment in these 2,317 schools of the district is 2,46,166, Altogether, 891 External Evaluators were deputed in the schools of Cachar during Gunotsav.

On the 4th of August, the 1st day, a total of 89.24 percent of students were present in the schools of the district where Gunotsav was held. This year, the main objective behind the conduct of Gunotsav was to identify the learning gaps of the students which primarily occurred due to two years of lockdown induced by the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.