GUWAHATI, Feb 1 � Miffed by the lack of teachers, study material including textbooks, proper training and infrastructure, the primary teachers of the State have decided to come out on the streets on February 5 to protest the State government�s �indifferent� attitude towards the problems concerning primary education in State.
Also expressing serious concern on the State government�s decision to bring Class V within the folds of lower primary education without building up the necessary infrastructure for the purpose, the Assam State Primary Teachers� Association, today said that the primary education system in the State needed an immediate and complete overhaul.
Addressing a press conference here, Jibon Chandra Borah, general secretary of the association said that the decision to bring Class V under lower primary education has made both the students and their parents apprehensive about the quality of education.
�The lower primary schools of State are already facing the problem like dearth of teachers, classrooms, educational tools etc. In such circumstances, adding another class, without upgrading the infrastructure would create utter disarray in schools,� Borah said.
�The primary school teachers of the State have organized a huge rally in Rajgarh Bihutoli on February 5 to place their demands in a forceful manner and ask the government to take immediate steps for redressing their grievances.
Criticizing the government for its failure to provide textbooks in all mediums (including Hindi, Bodo, Bangla), the association said that the books should be made available within the first week of February.
The teachers� body also demanded permanent recruitments on all the vacant posts in primary education sector, and an increase in the grade-pay of the teachers.
�Other than imparting education the teachers are overburdened with some additional responsibilities like census, election duty etc. that hampers the school education. The government, therefore, should relieve the teachers from this additional responsibility,� said Thanuram Burhagohain, president of the association.
Also raising the issue of introducing NCERT curriculum, the teachers association stressed the need to increase the local contents in the books. �Moreover, to teach the NCERT curriculum, the teachers must be given proper training,� he mentioned.
�Earlier, we submitted many memorandums to the Chief Minister drawing his attention towards various problems gripping primary education sector in the State. But getting no favourable response, we have decided to lodge a strong protest in Guwahati that would also result into loss of one academic day as the primary school teachers from across the State would come to Guwahati to join the rally,� he further added.
