Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 16 – Thousands of primary schools in Assam are yet to overcome long-standing hurdles even after the State Government reiterates its commitment to upgrade them. Some Education Department officials as well as teachers told The Assam Tribune that recent initiatives are yet to make an impact on the overall school environment in a tangible manner. The All Assam Students Union (AASU) too has repeatedly asked the Education Department for a thorough overhaul of the primary school system, but those appeals have apparently gone unheeded.
Sources, who preferred anonymity, admitted that almost all primary schools are facing problems in the area of human resource and infrastructure. According to the strategy of rationalization, more teachers are now available for service, but many schools are functioning with single teachers or with teachers who are poorly trained.
Significantly, there are no headmasters in many primary schools, but only teachers who are given an extra allowance to function as headmasters, claimed a senior member of the Asam Rajyik Pratahamik Sikshak Sanmilani. The absence of the post of headmasters has been a matter of disappointment for teachers who deserve the posts on account of their experience.
Inadequate electricity supply has been another challenge to students in rural areas and in remote settlements, many of which are dominated by people from economically weak backgrounds. Teachers point out that with the appalling status of rural electrification, students and teachers in those schools endure the summer months with great difficulty.
