All May declared as a summer vacation period in Assam

GUWAHATI: The Assam government declared Thursday the entire month of May as the summer vacation period for state educational institutions, covering it within the shutdown period.

Summer vacations in the state generally take place in July, but it was decided to declare it in May so that the vacations can adjust to this period of crisis, said Minister of Education and Health Himanta Biswa Sarma.

“A notice has been issued in this regard, declaring summer vacations from May 1 to 31,” he said.

A decision has not been made on the reopening of educational institutions and will be made according to the guidelines of the Center, Sarma said.

Prominent academics in the state have suggested that the academic calendar, which runs from January 1 to December 31, be changed to the period from April 1 to March 31 to cover academic loss due to closure, the minister said.

“The government has decided not to make a unilateral decision in this regard and has sent the proposal to the Board of Secondary Education, Assam for its consideration and the necessary measures,” he said.

The results of the Class 10 and 12 Board exams will be declared in June, but “we have decided to issue digital report cards and admissions to the university will be done online based on these certificates,” said Sarma.

“Students do not need to visit their educational institutions to collect report cards or for admissions, as they can complete the forms online. They will also need to provide their bank details, so if we decide to provide financial aid to students, the amount can be transferred directly to their bank accounts, “he said.

Students in class 12, who have not yet received their books, can pick them up from May 26 to 28 from their educational institutions while maintaining adequate social distance.

Referring to college and university students, the minister said, the UGC guidelines regarding the academic calendar will be followed.

He said the Diksha app and Bishwa Vidya Asom channel on YouTube were launched for online classes for students, but there are concerns that many students in rural areas do not have smartphones.

“The education department is working on ways to deal with these concerns. Teachers in rural areas will approach these students with their own phones and make them take advantage of these facilities, “he said.

Poetry, essay, scientific writing and other contests about the closing will also be held for students and they will be awarded more than 10,000 awards, Sarma said.