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AASU asks Govt to chalk out plan for students

By R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, April 21 - With the educational institutions closed due to outbreak of coronavirus, the students are facing an uncertain future and under the circumstances, the All Assam Students� Union (AASU) has called upon the Government to chalk out a comprehensive plan to protect the future of all the students right from primary to university level.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said that while chalking out a plan for the students, the Government should ensure that the students of the State do not lose an academic year and at the same time the health of the students should not be compromised with. He said that before opening the educational institutions, the Government would have to take steps to sanitize all the buildings of the institutions and if required, health check up of students should be carried out.

Bhattacharya said that as the first step, the Government can think of abolishing the summer vacation to make up for the time lost due to the outbreak of coronavirus. He, however, said that if the State faces excessive hot weather, appropriate decisions can be taken at that time. Moreover, the number of holidays can be reduced to make up for the time lost. Extra classes can be taken on Saturdays. Similarly, all the educational institutions can take extra classes on specific subjects as and when required.

On the issue of online teaching, Bhattacharya said that it should be encouraged so that the students do not lose touch with their studies. But at the same time, some students cannot take advantage of such classes, particularly in the interior areas. A good number of students cannot afford android phones, while, some remote areas do not have electricity or mobile network coverage. The Government will have to chalk out plan for such students, he added. He also said that the Government should ensure that text books are made available for all students so that they can carry on their studies at home.

On the issue of fees taken by the private schools, Bhattacharya said that some schools take very high rate of fees from the students and such schools should be asked not to take fees at this moment. But some private schools are barely surviving and the Government should think of extending some kind of support to those schools. However, he said that all the private schools should be asked to pay the salaries of the teachers and other employees regularly.

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