GUWAHATI: The Assam education department on Sunday announced that the Olympic bronze medallist, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, would be its brand ambassador and promote Samagra Siksha in the state.
Education minister Ranoj Pegu, made this announcement at the state-level Teacher's Day event here, saying that the government decision to rope in Lovlina is to help increase the literacy rate in the state and encourage education for girls. “Lovlina will work to promote education in the state with a special focus on girls’ education. We are also hopeful that she will play a vital role in popularizing sports in the sphere of education here,” said Pegu.
As the BJP-led government had promised one lakh government jobs every year, Pegu said the education department is going to set an example. “Without giving any scope of appeasement or unfair means, the education department will start the process of appointing 23,000 teachers from September 9,” he added. Schools, which are over 75 years old, will be given a facelift, said Pegu. “Each of the 209 schools in this category will be given Rs 3 crore for infrastructure development,” he said. Among a slew of measures, the minister informed that a special mission will start to improve the performance of students in science, maths and English. “Many of our students perform poorly in these subjects. The government will pump in adequate funds for the success of the mission to popularize the three subjects among students,” said Pegu.
The Anundoram Borooah Award 2018 was presented to eminent academician and scholar, the late Tabu Ram Taid, which was received by his family at the programme. Two teachers from Assam, Binanda Swargiary and Kangkan Kishore Dutta, were honoured with the National Awards to Teachers, 2021. Swargiary, a teacher at KB Deulkuchi HS School, Tamulpur, was honoured for his exemplary role in going beyond the call of duty to educate children and also popularise Bodo literature among students. Dutta, a teacher at Bamunpukhuri High School, Kaliapani, Jorhat, is known for his innovative means to make learning interesting. He has been awarded for his service to the community.
Since schools and colleges were closed, students greeted their teachers over phone and through whatsapp messages.
Dr Amalendu Chakraborty, vice-chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University, who was the chief guest at the 60th Teachers' Day celebration organized jointly by the District Administration and the Kamrup District Education Department, said, “The real teacher is an artist. Just as an artist removes the flaws from a work of art to make it more beautiful, a real teacher also makes a good human being by correcting the negative traits seen among students with advice and affection.”
