GUWAHATI: Lauding the new National Education Policy, Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday informed that a 40-member committee will be constituted to study and implement the policy in the State. At a press conference, Sarma said that the committee, headed by the Principal Secretary of the Department of Education will start functioning in a week and submit the recommendations by the end of December 1.
“The 40-member committee will break into several sub groups and study different aspects of the policy. By January, we should be able to prepare the blueprint,” the minister said.
Stating that the new policy will revolutionize the education system in the country, the Minister, however, opined that the policy has created a need for structural change.
The new education policy has divided the system into four stages and as per it no student up to Class 12 will be deprived of education.
Meanwhile, Sarma also said that the government is considering opening of schools from September 1 for the first time after the outbreak of COVID-19 led to the shutdown of educational institutes.
“Although final decision on this would depend on the Centre and also how the COVID-19 scenario transpires, we are giving it a thought. If such a decision is eventually taken, all the teaching staff and other employees of the school will have get tested for COVID-19 between August 23 And 30,” the minister said.
However, he said that the schools up to Class 4 shall however remain closed.
Sarma also said that once the decision to open schools is taken, the schools will have to use open spaces for imparting education. Not more than 15 students of each of the classes of 5, 6, 7 and 8 will be allowed to attend the class at a time.
However, for class 11 and 12, the students will be able to attend the classes twice a week (15 students at a time) for three hours a day and that too inside the classroom. Further, for Class 10 and 12, classes can be conducted for four days in the classroom.
While attendance for teachers will be compulsory, there will be no such obligations on the students.
