Guwahati, Nov. 27: Dispur has “in principle” decided to merge the Board of Secondary Education, Assam and the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council and create a single body like the Central Board of Secondary Education that will have sole control over the education system from Classes I to XII.

A state government official said the education department was studying the suggestions and recommendations received from different quarters for creating a single body that would prepare syllabi, effect changes in teaching and learning methodologies and conduct examinations up to Class XII.

“Since the state has decided to follow the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) model of syllabus and evaluation in schools and colleges at the under-graduate level with an eye on all-India examinations, many academicians and scholars have questioned the necessity of two bodies like SEBA and AHSEC.

“With the decision to de-link the higher secondary classes from degree colleges, there is now little need for having a body like the AHSEC,” the official said.

He said Dispur’s move was also consistent with the human resource development ministry’s instruction to the states to create a single board to control education in schools and colleges at the undergraduate level.

According to the official, since the NCERT model would be followed from Classes I to XII, the existence of two bodies like SEBA and AHSEC may create confusion and chaos as the pace of progress in implementing the NCERT model would not be the same between the two bodies.

“While SEBA looks after the education aspect from Classes I to X, AHSEC is entrusted with preparing the syllabi and conducting examinations in Classes XI and XII. So for systematic and planned implementation of the NCERT model right from Class I, a single body must be constituted,” he said.

“The government will look into the details and discuss with experts how to go about merging SEBA and AHSEC. Education minister Gautam Bora is in touch with the human resource development ministry,” he added.

Academician Basanta Deka, one of the founders of Asam Jatiya Vidyalaya, the first private Assamese medium school, said the government had no option other than creating a single body to control and manage school and college education at the undergraduate level.

“I do not find any rationale in having two bodies like SEBA and AHSEC. A single body to manage education affairs upto Class XII would be cost effective by reducing man power and introducing computerisation,” he said.

“I do not think the government will have big hassles in implementing the decision. Huge infrastructure like the buildings of SEBA and AHSEC are already in place which could be used for the single body,” he added.