Hailakandi, Aug. 22: Four schools of Hailakandi district in south Assam's Barak Valley have amalgamated as part of a rationalisation drive by the state education department.
Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had directed the amalgamation process recently when he pulled up heads of schools which failed to perform well in board examinations and have very low enrolment of students.
Based on Sarma's directive, Sarba Siksha Mission (SSA) merged four schools with nearby bigger schools in Hailakandi town.
The 520 Town Gulalia LP School has been merged with Public Higher Secondary School. The 516 Town Balika Vidyalaya has been merged with Indra Kumari Girls' Higher Secondary School.
The 213 Haricharan Mahamaya Girls' Lower Primary School and Haricharan Mahamaya Girls' Middle English School have been merged with Haricharan Mahamaya Girls' High School.
"This will be implemented with effect from August 1 but some formalities have not been completed such as abolition of bank accounts and adjustment of teachers," said a Sarba Siksha Mission official.
Besides the four schools in urban area, 30 more schools have also been amalgamated throughout the district.
The headmistress of Haricharan Mahamaya Girls' High School, Rita Chanda, said it was good to have the students of the three schools on the same campus. She welcomed the amalgamation plan of the government.
Under the directive, the primary and middle schools with enrolment of 25 to 35 students would be identified for amalgamation with the nearest school.
While closing down or amalgamating, the authorities should ensure that every child in the age group of 6 to 14 years has right to free and compulsory education. It should also be ensured that the condition of roads, streams/rivers and other hazardous elements on the way to school are safe enough for school-going children.
The buildings of the vacated schools may be used for government office or may be rented out, the official guidelines of amalgamation said.
The Sarba Siksha Mission and elementary education department have conducted survey in all the schools meant for amalgamation in Hailakandi district.
At least 11 lower primary and middle schools have been identified in town areas for amalgamation. Lower primary schools in Assam comprise pre-primary standard to class IV while middle schools are from classes V to VIII.
