Pegu announces localized recruitment; talks underway with universities for one-year teaching internships
Guwahati, March 25: The Assam government is set to introduce a cluster-based teacher cadre system to address the acute shortage of teachers in remote and inaccessible areas, including the char (sandbar) areas.
Announcing the decision during the final day of the budget session in the state assembly on Tuesday, Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said that the initiative aims to recruit local youths for teaching positions in their respective clusters, ensuring that teachers remain in these areas. He also highlighted that teachers recruited under this scheme will not be transferred outside their designated clusters.
Pegu pointed out that many teachers resist postings in remote areas and use various means to avoid relocation. To counter this, the government is considering making school-specific posts in char areas and restricting transfers to within the same cluster. “If a teacher wants to leave the cluster, they will have to resign,” Pegu said.
Despite Assam maintaining a 20:1 pupil-teacher ratio, some schools still face shortages due to uneven distribution. Pegu noted that many teachers are posted in accessible districts, leaving remote schools understaffed. The government has launched a rationalization program and an online transfer system, successfully transferring 35,000 teachers so far. However, transfers remain dependent on replacement availability.
The education minister acknowledged that teacher recruitment is a lengthy process due to legal and procedural constraints. He cited the need for fair recruitment tests, verification of certificates, and compliance with legal guidelines.
The government is exploring alternatives, including internship programs under which universities may send postgraduate and graduate students as interns to fill temporary gaps.
He also said the state government is considering a one-year fellowship under The Assam Education Fellowship to allow graduates to work as teachers for a year without requiring TET or B.Ed qualifications.
He reaffirmed that the January 1, 2006, cutoff date for school provincialization remains unchanged. Schools recognized by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA), or the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) before this date will be considered. Land disputes have delayed the process, but efforts are underway to provincialize eligible schools.
Additionally, the government is investing in school infrastructure and in the 2024-25 fiscal, 4,000 additional classrooms were constructed. In the 2025-26 fiscal, the infrastructure of 500 secondary schools will be upgraded. During the previous year, 250 high schools were upgraded to higher secondary level, he said.
Pegu emphasized the government’s commitment to improving education through initiatives like Gunotsav. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is set to announce the results on March 27. Schools that secured an A+ grade last year will receive Rs 25,000 as a reward.
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