GUWAHATI, Dec 31 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi formally launched the free textbook distribution process for school students under the Sarba Shiksha Abhijan Mission at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra here today.
Under the project a total of 3,36,02233 textbooks will be distributed among 64,62,447 students of the State for the academic session 2011, an official release said.
Addressing the function held on the occasion, Gogoi said that the State Government had taken up an ambitious plan for augmenting school education under which 5,000 Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) centres would be provincialized and turned into full-fledged primary schools. In addition, 20,000 school teachers would be recruited on a contract basis by January end for meeting the shortage of teaching staff. Besides, two pairs of school uniforms would be provided to 58 lakh students of the State, he added.
In another major decision, the State Government has decided to make English a compulsory subject for all schools from Class III onwards. The Chief Minister said that a lot of emphasis was being put on computer education as well and was likely to be introduced at the primary stage itself.
Giving an account of the various initiatives taken by the State Government, the Chief Minister said that the objective was to improve the infrastructure of education at every level � from primary to university.
�Education has been our topmost priority because the very foundation of a nation rests on education. Primary education, too, has been a key area of focus, as it provides the foundation for all-round development of our young children,� Gogoi said.
Education Minister Gautom Bora also addressed the meeting along with several other top Education Department officials.
