Assam govt forms ‘Task Force’ for suggesting means to make up academic loss

April 29: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the regular imparting of education to Schools, Colleges and Universities and all other higher educational institutions all over the world. All the educational institutions in Assam were closed from 15 March, 2020 and the expected date of re-opening of the institutions cannot be ascertained at this moment. There is a high risk of difficulties of students in continuation of their studies. Hence, there is an urgent need to find out modalities for continuing education through alternative arrangement.

All the academic authorities have to provide support to students for studying either through distance learning mode or home schooling or tutorial classes or through electronic media or radio or any other innovative practices. Therefore, Government of Assam in Education Department has decided to constitute a Task Force to suggest the Government of Assam for taking necessary action on the above aspects. The Task Force will suggest Education Department on the following points:

• Involvement of all teachers of Higher Secondary Schools and Colleges in imparting education to all the students through different distance learning mode.
• Coverage of teaching of important subjects through Radio or Televisibn.
• Declaration of Summer Vacation.
• Start of education of Class XII students in Schools/ Colleges.
• Uniform study materials for Class XII students.
• Strategy for distribution of books to students of Class XI and above.
• Admission procedure of Class XI and above.
• Contribution of research by students of Universities and Colleges.
• Any other matter, as decided by the Task Force.

Preetom Saikia, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, Education Department shall he the convenor of the meeting of the Task Force. The Task Force will be constituted with the following members:

• Prof. M. K. Choudhury, Adviser, Education, Assam
• B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, IAS, Principal Secretary, Education Department, Assam
• Preetom Saikia, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Education Department, Assam
• Prof. Kandarpa Das, Vice Chancellor, KKHSOU, Assam
• R. C. Jain, IAS (Reid.), Chairman, SEBA, Assam
• Dr. Deepak Majumdar, IAS, Secretary, Higher Education Department and MD, RUSA, Assam
• H. K. Nath, Registrar, Gauhati University, Guwahati
• Smti Gitimoni Phukan, ACS, Director of Higher Education, Assam
• Manoranjan Kakaty, Secretary, AHSEC, Assam
• Regional Director, IGNOU, Assam
• Dr. Satyen Barman, Principal, B. Borooah College, Guwahati
• Dr. Pranab Kr. Sandilya, Principal, Guwahati College, Guwahati
• Biswajit Bhuyan, Associate Professor, Nagaon College, Nagaon, Assam, President ACTA
• Himangshu Moroi, Associate Professor, Dimoria College, Khetri, Assam, General Secretary, ACTA

We understand it is critical to have a new strategy for higher education in wake of #COVID. To prepare a roadmap, held a meeting with Assam College Principal Council & Assam College Teachers Association along with Pr Secy, Education, B Kalyan Chakraborty & Education Commissioner. pic.twitter.com/olHkL83Ndt

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 29, 2020

The first meeting of the Task Force shall be held in the Conference Hall of the Sarba Siksha Abhiyan, Assam, Kahilipara, Guwahati on 30 April, 2020. The Task Force has been asked by the state government to submit its report by 4 May, 2020. The order was issued by Preetom Saikia, Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam, Education Department on 29 April, 2020.