Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that his government would launch special classes for rural students sitting for matriculation examinations, adding that he had seen a similar initiative in Jharkhand. The chief minister wrote on X, “In the coming months we will be launching a Special Class programme for our kids in villages who will be appearing in the matriculation examination. They will be taught by educated youth of their own villages who will receive an honorarium of ₹300 per student.” Sarma wrote, “This year the form fill up of the matriculation examination will be done in the month of October. After the completion of form fill up in October till February-March, we will organize night schools. This means the B.A, B.Sc qualified youths of the villages will organize the students of the villages at the schools after school hours and take special classes for them.” “There will be less professional work, whatever is taught in the schools, will be taught in these special classes. The rich students can afford tuitions, so this arrangement has been made for village students at the local Anganwadi centers and schools. And for this purpose, we have allocated a budget of Rs. 300 per candidate of the matriculation examination. The decision regarding the payment be made directly to the teachers or via students, will be taken after discussions. If a village has 50 candidates and two graduates, they can help the candidates with their preparations for these four months,” he added. Recounting his visit to Jharkhand last year, the BJP leader said, “When I was in Jharkhand for election campaigns, I saw an NGO which ran these schools. It was very effective and we want to implement the same in Assam.” Sarma said the students would be taught from 6 pm to 9 pm under the new initiative.
