NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Aug 8 � Education Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the education system in Assam has so far been teacher-centric, whereas the target group, the students, were never given importance. He was speaking as the chief guest at the freshers� social programme at the Lakhimpur Girls� College here today.
Sarma said that the education system should be student centric rather than being teacher-oriented in which maximum benefits should be provided to the students.
Taking part for the very first time in a college freshers� meet after assuming charge as the Education Minister, Dr Sarma said that parents of students of Assam have been standing a silent message against the government by not sending their children to government-run schools.
He said that teachers in private schools had been imparting good quality education despite getting a very meager salary while in government-run schools, the opposite happens despite the teachers getting handsome salaries regularly.
The dwindling number of students at all governmental schools should be a topic of research, the minister said. He expressed his amazement why academics and intelligentsia have failed to take up research on such an important issue even though many of them are focused on the mega-dam issue. The job of a teacher should not be an alternative to being unemployed, Dr Sarma said.
Expressing his displeasure at the fewer number of students in Science stream at the college level, he said that this can be attributed to the want of good science teachers at the school level. Dr Sarma stressed the need of pursuing vocational and professional courses by students with mediocre marks. He also stressed the need for personality development, knowledge of English and computer skills among students, right from the school level.
Significantly, he informed that the government intends to set up a State Grants Commission for higher education in Assam like the UGC which would provide grants to colleges as per the fulfillment of NAAC criteria. He also promised a complete overhauling of the entire education system in the State in the next four years.
Dr Sarma, however, ruled out setting up of a university in the district and said the medical college, the foundation stone of which was laid here last year, would instead be completed within two years.
