Assam to Launch 80 New Model Schools in Tea Garden Areas by 2025
Transforming Education in Assam's Tea Gardens
Guwahati, July 10: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has unveiled plans to establish 80 additional model schools in Assam's tea garden regions, set to open by January 2025. This initiative aims to enhance educational opportunities in these areas.
The initiative follows a remarkable increase in student enrollment, which has surged from approximately 12,000 to nearly 35,000 in tea garden schools over recent years.
“In 2021, we launched our first model high schools in tea garden areas, and the total has now reached 118. We are excited to announce the opening of 80 more schools by January, with each school serving four tea gardens. The infrastructure is already in place,” Sarma stated during a review meeting with educators from these schools.
The Chief Minister emphasized the ongoing "silent but significant revolution" in these historically neglected communities. “Enrollment has increased from just over 12,000 to more than 30,000 tea garden children. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our progress,” he remarked.
During the meeting, teachers and headmasters from various tea garden schools contributed their ideas for enhancing educational outcomes.
Suggestions included building proper boundary walls, providing breakfast alongside midday meals, and extending the midday meal program to include students in Classes 9 and 10 to address nutritional challenges that often lead to dropouts.
Sarma acknowledged that dropout rates, particularly in Classes 8 and 9, remain a challenge as economic pressures often compel families to send their children to work in tea gardens or factories. However, he noted that Assam has made considerable strides in this area.
“The dropout rates have decreased and are now approaching the national average. A comprehensive report will be released in the next two to three months,” he added.
To further bolster the educational framework, the Assam government is collaborating with international organizations, including the Hans Foundation, which has committed Rs 300 crore over five years to enhance model and standard schools in tea garden regions.
"Each model school is already receiving two teachers from the foundation, with additional support from global philanthropies like the Bill Gates Foundation and the Azim Premji Foundation," Sarma noted.
Currently, Assam is home to 57 CBSE model schools, primarily situated in educationally disadvantaged blocks. "These institutions have achieved remarkable results, with pass rates ranging from 96% to 100% since their inception in 2014–15," he added.
During the review, Sarma also emphasized the importance of professionalism, reprimanding a teacher for recording their conversation on a mobile device, labeling the behavior as “unprofessional” and advising staff to refrain from such actions in the future.
The establishment of 80 new model schools is viewed as a crucial step towards fostering brighter futures and breaking the cycle of poverty in these communities.