All Bodo Students Union has organised a national seminar on Challenges and measures in ensuring quality education in vernacular medium (Elementary and Secondary) at Rabindra Bhawan , Guwahati on 7th May . The ceremonial lamp was lighted by Dr Hitesh Deka, Vice Chancellor of KKH State Open University. The session was chaired by Taren Bodo and key note speech was delivered by Pramod Bodo, President of ABSU. In his speech he mentioned that “it is already a decade elapse that the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) has been seriously working in a mission mode program to improve quality education for Bodo medium since 2006 declaring ‘Year of Education’ and ‘Mission Quality Education’ from 2007 up to 2020.” “I would like to congratulate all because in the beginning year 2006 only 66 got first division in the HSLC exam from Bodo Medium but in the year 2015 it raise to 910” , stated by Pramod Bodo in his key note speech .
Speaking as resource person, Tapan Chakraborty, Education Minister, Tripura Government has shared his views on the subject in the light of people’s movement for education in Tripura as well as education policies and action plans as taken care of by the government of Tripura for enhancing quality in education. It is to be mentioned that literacy rate in Tripura in 1901 was 2.3 % and the same is now 96.82%.
The statistics of schools in Tripura justifies the fact that more than 95% schools in the state are government schools and as such, it can safely be said that unlike most of the other states the task of imparting education in this state is by and large shouldered by the government schools.
Education Minister said that “we are confident that with successful implementation of the measures adopted and motivated cooperation from the community and teacher, the challenge ahead can be combated and the cherished goal will be achieved”.
Speaking on the occasion Basanta Deka , Eminent Educationist of Assam has said that “the problem of government schools can be solved if government officials send their kids to government schools.”
Congratulating ABSU, Professor Shantha Sinha , Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and former Chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has said that “ABSU has been fighting for the rights and justice of the students’ community.” She mentioned that every child must go to school and study and state must take responsibility as education should not be any commodity. “We must have education with infrastructure and teacher can do well if they are engaged only in teaching”, Said Prof Sinha . She strongly advocated that teachers should not be engaged in any other activities by government apart from teaching. She also said that “we must celebrate the diversity and students should learn as many language as they can and learning in mother tongue does not mean opposing any other language.” She appealed ABSU to support good points in New Education Policies and at the same time critique the points which do not provide equality and justice.
Advocate Ashok Agarwal , Convener of All India Parent Association , New Delhi said that “there should be national law for the private schools and the school management committees of private schools must include 50% or more members from guardians and parents to avoid exploitation. More members with guardians’ means private schools cannot exploit the students or guardians.” He also said that, “there is need for amendment in RTE and free and compulsory education must reach to secondary which means till class XII.” He emphasized that government servants or officials must send their kids to government schools.
Other speakers and guest includes Thaneswar Malakar , Mission Director , SSA Assam ; Krishna Gopal Basumatary , director of UN Academy , Kokrajhar ; Urkhao Gwra Brahma Former MP of Rajya Sabha ; Rwn Gwra Narzary, MCLA .
ABSU has made some demands which includes more budget allocation from center and state for educational development in Assam, proper implementation of RTE, permanent solution of the issues of venture schools through a time bound policy decisions subject wise teacher appointment and rationalizations of teacher-student ratio, compulsory education up to class XII or 18 years, accountability commission for Teachers and Authority, etc. It was attended by teachers, parents, guardians, students, representatives from different voluntarily organisation from different parts of the region.
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