NALBARI, Jan 21: In a major development, Nalbari district Deputy Commissioner Ashish Bhutani today locked the office of the Deputy Inspector of Schools here and called for an explanation from the DIS and other employees concerned as to why large-scale irregularities had been committed in appoitment school teachers in the districtrecently. The DC's action came amid widespread reports about bribery and corruption in appointing schoolteachers. [S]

Seven teachers suspended

JORHAT, Jan 25: The Sibsagar Primary Education Officer suspended seven teachers on the charge of negligence of duty today. There are three headmasters among the suspended teachers. [S]

Cotton teachers threaten stir

GUWAHATI, Jan 27: The teachers of the premier Cotton College have threatened to go on agitation from February 1 next if the government fails to release the salary of last December within January 31 next. [AT]

Students marching during a silent procession that was brought out in the city on February 1 afternoon to protest against the beheading of school-student Varun Shandilya and the brutalisation of society. The Assam Tribune photo.

4 policemen hurt as students attack

AGARTALA, Feb 3 (PTI): Four policemen, including a sub-inspector, were injured today when irate students attacked and ransacked the Bishalgarh police station in West district, about 30 km from here. Police said the students attacked the police station demanding action against a particular person who had allegedly misbehaved with the headmaster of their school. [S]

Forged marksheet racketeer held

GUWAHATI, Feb 5: City police last night succeeded in busting a major racket in forged marksheets, admit cards and drugs, and arrested the kingpin Sanjay Kumar Yadav from his residence at Gate No 3 of the Nehru Stadium here. Paltanbazar police informed that a huge quantity of forged marksheets, admit cards of the Gauhati University, Barpeta College and several boxes of spectroprerxivin drug was recovered from his possession. [AT]

Corruption deeply entrenched GUWAHATI, Feb 8: The extent to which corruption has entrenched in all spheres of or social life was manifested once again today when a lady from Karbi Anglong district tried to bribe Prof Deben Dutta, head of the department of English, Cotton College to allow her daughter, a student of the college, to fill up the form for the HS Final (Arts) Exams, creating all-round consternation in college. [S]

Forgery at DIS office : Students demand probe

KAITHALKUCHI, Feb 15: Uttar Dharmapur Anchalik Students Union president Pradip Barman and secretary Arun Chakraborty have expressed strong resentment of the forgery case and anomalies at the office of the Deputy Inspector of Schools, Nalbari. [AT]

Uncertainty haunts HSLC students again

GUWAHATI, Feb 16: The conduct of the upcoming HSLC and HSSLC exams has again become uncertain following threat by the Sadou Asom Sikshak-Karmachari Samannay Samiti to resort to non-cooperation movement from February 23 for an indefinite period till their demands on pay scales and service conditions, etc. are fulfilled, as the State Government has said, it is unable to meet all their demands in view of the severe resource crunch. [S]

Protesting teachers court arrest

NALBARI, Feb 18: About 102 teachers working in primary and secondary level schools of Nalbari district were arrested by Nalbari police when they staged picketing in front of the offices of Inspector of Schools, Nalbari, DEEO office, Nalbari and DI office, Nalbari in protest against the non-fulfilment of various demands. [S]

Nagaon DI office Dealing Assistant demands Rs 2,800 to get work done

NAGAON, Feb 18: Great sensation prevails in Nagaon over the reported bribery scandal of a dealing assistant of Nagaon deputy inspector of schools' office, who, it is alleged, takes upto Rs 2,800 from retired LP school teacher to get their work done. It is alleged that the said dealing assistant is demanding this huge money from about 40 deceased and retired teachers of LP school. [NED]

School principal arrested for 'cheating' students

AIZAWL, Feb 18: Principal of a private school in Mizoram was arrested on Thursday by police allegedly for "cheating" the students, police said. [AT] NAGAON, Feb 18: Great sensation prevails in Nagaon over the reported bribery scandal of a dealing assistant of Nagaon deputy inspector of schools' office, who, it is alleged, takes upto Rs 2,800 from retired LP school teacher to get their work done. It is alleged that the said dealing assistant is demanding this huge money from about 40 deceased and retired teachers of LP school. [NED]

Teachers' strike at Ghograpar

GHOGRAPAR, Feb 20: Teachers of elementary education here staged a day-long agitational programme in front of the block elementary education office, here on February 16 in protest against the government's failure to implement the memorandum of settlement which was signed earlier. [AT]

Teachers victims of Education Dept

JORHAT, Feb 24: 13 M.E. School teachers in Jorhat have been victims of administrative lapses on the part of the education department. Appointed during the time of the Congress government in 1993-94, these 13 teachers had to continue to work for the subsequent seven years without retention order. [S]

Inspector of Schools transferred

BARPETA, Feb 24: The Inspector of Schools, Barpeta, Mr Nibaran Das, who has been transferred from here is said to have been compelled to return lakhs of rupees taken from the candidates for the posts of teachers and office assistants. [S]

HSLC exams begin amid controversy

GUWAHATI, March 7: The annual High School Leaving Certificate Examination and the Assam High Madrassa Examinations, conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA), began in the State Tuesday morning amid controversy over the blanking out of questions from two of the rapid readers in the English 1st Paper. [AT]

GU officers' body stages stir

GUWAHATI, March 10: The Gauhati University Officers' Association (GUOA) on Thursday resumed its agitational programmes demanding implementation of UGC and CPC revised pay scales for the officers of the University, with a sit-in-strike in front of the Vice-Chancellor's office chamber. [AT]

Gang of five in medical entrance scam

GUWAHATI, March 12: A gang of senior medical students is writing the examination for entry into medical colleges in the state by proxy. Affluent candidates unsure of being able to get through the entrance test hire the gang to write the exam for them. [TT]

Striking teachers taken to hospitals

GUWAHATI, March 14: The 'fast unto death' agitation carried out by the Venture School Teachers Association at Dispur Last gate since March 8 has taken a serious turn, when, nearly 21 of the striking teachers had to be admitted to hospital. [S]

Literacy mission in limbo NAGAON, March 15: Although the 'Total Literacy Mission' campaign with financial assistance from the National Literacy Mission started way back in 1997 and was scheduled to be completed within two years, it failed to meet its objectives in Nagaon district till today and is still in its primary stage. It may be maintained that despite memorandums sent by 70 people regarding misappropriation of fund meant for the campaign to the State Education Minister, no inquiry has been ordered as yet. [S]

SEBA employees' ultimatum

GUWAHATI, March 15: The Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) Employees' Union today threatened to launch an agitation if the Government fails to reconstitute the Board within 15 days. In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, the SEBA Employees' Union held the Board authorities responsible for the anomalies in the ongoing High School Leaving Certificate Examination. [AT]

2 Top SEBA officials to step down

GUWAHATI, March 16: Under pressure from demonstrators of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), the Secretary BK Das, and the Controller of Examination, Board of Seconday Education, Assam (SEBA) BK Goswami, today promised to step down owning moral responsibility for anomalies in question papers in the ongoing High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examination. Hundreds of AASU members today laid siege to the SEBA office here for over two hours demanding resignation of Board's officials including the Chairman for glaring anomalies in HSLC examination process this year jeopardising the future of lakhs of students. [AT]

AASU activists gherao the Secretary and the Controller of the Board of Secondary Education, Assam demanding their resignation for the anomalies in the HSLC examination, at SEBA office, in the city on March 16. The Sentinel photo.

Students agitate over rescheduling of exams

SILCHAR, March 17: The students of Assam University boycotted their classes and staged a demonstration in front of the Vice-Chancellor's office at Darogakona last Monday, protesting against the holding of different examinations ahead of schedule. [S]

Teachers' stir to be resumed

GUWAHATI, March 22: The Asom Sikshak-Karmachari Samanway Samiti has decided to resume their agitation from March 30 to protest against the non-fulfilment of their long-pending demands by the State government despite assurances to this effect. [AT]

Task force to decide fate of irregular Assam teachers

GUWAHATI, March 23: The Assam government has formed a high-level task force to finally settle the fates of 11,627 school teachers of the state. The government has fixed a deadline of six months to resolve the issue, and also decided to sack all the 3,503 teachers who were appointed eillegally' by the previous Congress regime. [NED]

Regularisation of services demanded

GOSSAIGAON, March 24: Gossaigaon Subdivisional LP School English and Mother Teachers' Association (under BAC) held a one-day picketing at the office of Deputy Inspector of Schools, Gossaigaon on March 2 demanding regularisation of their services, regular monthly salary and supply of textbooks to the schools. [AT]

Fraud candidates detected : Headmaster in jail custody

HALEM, March 26: Out of the 44 candidates appearing for HSLC examination from the Dipara High School under Barangabari Centre in Sonitpur district, 17 of them are detected to be fraud candidates, who were shown as regular candidates by the concerning headmaster, against a huge sum of money, as reported here by the officer-in-charge of the centre, Ms Lokeswari Handique. The matter has been reported to Ghahigaon Police Station and accordingly, the headmaster of the school Mr Jiban Bhuyan was arrested and sent to jail custody. [S]

Erratic power supply hits south Kamrup areas

AZARA, March 27: Erratic power supply in Azara, Dharapur, Kahikuchi, Borjhar, Rani, Majirgaon, Palashbari, Mirza, Bijoynagar, Rampur, Chhaygaon etc in South Kamrup has caused inconveniences to the people since the last several months. Power supply is scant. Worse still, there has been frequent load-shedding by ASEB, the worst suffers being the students particularly the examinees of on-going examinations. [AT]

Woes of NE students in Delhi

NEW DELHI, March 27: Perceived racial discriminations against students from the North-east residing in the capital, have led to a massive outcry among the students community, who accuse the authorities of turning a blind eye to their woes. [AT]

House panel indicts Education Dept

GUWAHATI, March 27: The departmentally related standing committee on education of the Assam Legislative Assembly has expressed serious concern at the failure of the Education department to pay the scholarship to the school students regularly. [AT]

College teacher 'assaulted' by police

ITANAGAR, March 28 (PTI): The principal of a government college here, has alleged that police intruded into the college campus on March 24 without the permission of the college authorities and brutally assaulted the lecturer-cum-hostel superintendent of the college. [S]

Future of teachers, employees of DGIA colleges appears bleak

SIVASAGAR, March 28: The future of more than 10,000 teachers and employees of Deficit Grants-in-Aid (DGIA) colleges of the State appears bleak because of continued and persistent anti-teachers move adopted by the AGP Government. [S]

Teachers start agitation

GUWAHATI, March 30: The seven-day long ceasework called by the Asom Sikshak Karmachari Samanway Samiti affected the normal functioning of the schools today, according to president of the Samanway Samiti, Sri Abdul Rashid. [AT]

SAKP warns State Govt

GUWAHATI, April 1: Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP) today warned the State Government to desist from hatching any conspiracy to suppress the ongoing cease-work agitation of the teachers and employees of the schools. Lashing out at the State Government step at placing six agitating teachers under suspension, the SAKP warned a serious situation in case of the State Government's failure to settle the dispute amicably. [AT]

Dilip Choudhury picked up by police GUWAHATI, April 1: Retired director of Higher Education Department Sri Dilip Choudhury was picked up today for interrogation by Dispur police in connection with charges of corruption regarding appointment and promotion of teachers, informed Additional (City) SP PK Dutta here this evening. [AT]

Magistrates to inspect teachers' attendance

JORHAT, April 2: The Government has taken a stern attitude towards the striking teachers in the State. While the inspectors in the districts have been inspecting the schools in a whirlwind fashion from March 30 onwards to see for themselves the actual attendance of the teachers, the district administration has been in receipt of Government instructions to engage magistrates to examine attendance of the teachers in various schools in the district.[S]

Chargesheet against principal for sexual abuse of ttenager

AGARATALA, April 6: The south Tripura police has ignored two dubious DNA reports and filed charge sheet against the Principal of the Kakrahon Navodaya Vidyalaya, Mr Hari Sankar Tiwari for sexually abusing a 14 year old girl. The class VIII student Purnima Dey had delivered a girl child on February 20, 1999 in the school hostel. [S]

Morigan district Admn suspends 17 teachers

MORIGAON, April 7: The Morigaon district administration has suspended 17 teachers for participating in the seven-day cease-work call given by the All Assam Sikhayok Karmachari Samannoy Samiti (AASKSS) from March 30 to April 5 last. The administration, along with the Education Department, also ordered pay-cuts against many other teachers. [AT]

4 expelled for ragging in Silchar

SILCHAR, April 8: Four students of the Silchar Medical College were today expelled for ragging freshers. [TT]

ACTA to resort to 72-hour hunger strike

GUWAHATI, April 10: The Assam College Teachers' Association (ACTA) has decided to resort to a 72-hour continuous hunger strike from 10 am of May 4 in Guwahati to press the State Government to concede its demands regarding pension and categorisation of college teachers in the State among others. [AT]

Disciplinary action against 4 students

GOLAGHAT, April 13: Four teenaged students of Golaghat Government Higher Secondary School have been subjected to disciplinary action for alleged act of misconduct in the school campus. [S]

When chowkidar becomes teacher, who will man the gate? GOLAGHAT, April 20: About 100 students in the Dhondacham ME School are being attended by the Headmaster and the chawkidar of the school due to acute lack of teachers or teaching staff. Earlier the school had seven teachers, including the Head master. Three of the teachers had retired four years ago. Of the remaining four, three teachers have been transferred to other schools only last month. [S]

One arrested for ULFA links

NAGAON, April 24: Police arrested Ms Kanaka Saikia, wife of ULFA activist Surya Bora alias Paban Bora, along with her two-year-old child at No. 2 Kaki village in Hojai subdivision here today. Ms Saikia had been working as a teacher in a local ME school. Police said, she was arrested because her name was found in certain documents recovered from ULFA activists. [S]

AAMTEA teachers stir on ISI issue

GUWAHATI, April 29: The All Assam Madrassa Teachers' & Employees' Association today threatened a movement if the State government did not stop interrogating functionaries of the madrassas and mosques in Assam on the ISI activities and their alleged links with the Pakistani outfit. [S]

Agitation paralyses DU functioning

IBRUGARH, May 3: Normal functioning of Dibrugarh University has almost come to a standstill following the agitation launched by the DU Post Graduate Students Union (DUPGSU), the DU unit of the AASU and the DU Employees' Union. The agitation launched by the DUPGSU since May 1 in protest against the 130 per cent hike in admission fees has entered the third day today. [S]

Three-day ceasework by MCTA

SHILLONG, May 3 (PTI): The Meghalaya College Teachers Association (MCTA) has given a three-day ceasework call in the institutions from today in support of its various economic demands. [S]

'Politics spell doom for State education standards'

GUWAHATI, May 6: Former Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University, Dr NK Chaudhury has commented that 'unhealthy' practice in appointing teachers and outrageous interference by political party in power in affairs of educational institutions have spelt doom for standard of education in the State. He has observed that during the last two decades there has been regrettable decline in the standard of education at all levels in the State and educational institutions are plagued by a number of malaises which require urgent remedies. [AT]

Sex abuse of Bosconian : Poilce lists case, school denies charge

GUWAHATI, May 8: Reports of a student being sexually abused at the Don Bosco School here has created sensation in the city. On Monday, Father C Kuriala, headmaster of the school, flatly denied such reports saying, "Such a thing did not happen, and there is absolutely no substance in the reports." However, the police on Monday registered a suo motto case (No. 117/2000) on the matter. Police sources said that permission had been taken from the chief judicial magistrate to register the suo motto case. [NED]

Parking of damaged vehicles creates problem

DERGAON, May 12: The casual attitude of the authorities of the Dergaon Police Station in parking vehicles damaged in accidents in front of the police station is becoming a great irritant for the people of the area. The fact that the police station is situated just across the road from the Dergaon Girls' HS School means that the students of the school have to face great problems and danger while coming to attend school. [S]

ACTA stir from May 22

GUWAHATI, May 13: The Assam College Teachers' Association (ACTA) will resort to a 72-hour hunger strike from 10 a.m. on May 22 to 10 a.m. on May 25 at Dispur Last Gate demanding fulfilment of their various demands, a press release said. [S]

Trainee-teachers adopt unfair means at exam

NORTH GUWAHATI, May 17: Due to adoption of unfair-means, followed by ransacking and destruction of doors and windows by a section of examinees, who are deputed Hindi teachers coming from various schools of the State to North Guwahati Hindi Teachers Training College here, in the final examination held at the college on May 5 last, the external officer Prof Hemraj Mina Dibakar of Central Hindi Institute, Guwahati branch, recommended postponement of the said examination. [AT]

Agitation against political transfer

NAGAON, May 18: The students of Dawson HS School, Nagaon have been continuing their class-boycott since May 15 against an order of Inspector of School, Nagaon, transferring their popular lady teacher Ms Bhanu Devi Goswami from the school to Haiborgaon High School on May 10. Against the post of Ms Goswami another lady teacher named Ms Gita Bora of Juria HS School has been posted. It may be mentioned here that Ms Gita Bora is the wife of Mr Prabhat Kalita, vice-president, AGP district committee. [S]

ACTA stir begins

GUWAHATI, May 22: The 72-hour hunger strike called by the Assam College Teachers Association (ACTA) began today. The hunger strike call has been given in protest against non-fulfilment of long-pending demands of the teachers. [AT]

Anomalies in answer script evaluation

NAGAON, May 25: Serious anomalies have been alleged in the evaluation of answer scripts of HSLC examination at Nagaon. According to the allegations, an Arts teacher of Kathiatoli HS School evaluated answer scripts of Mathematics. In another case, it has been alleged that another teacher from the same school, who had joined as a teacher of Education, evaluated answer scripts of Social Studies. [S]

GU may miss 20 UGC posts, State Govt keeps mum

GUWAHATI, May 26: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sanctioned 20 posts of professors, lecturers and readers in different departments of Gauhati University (GU) during the 9th Five-year Plan. However, as the Assam government has not yet given its concurrence to the proposal, it is unlikely that the university will get the posts during the Plan period which concludes in 2002. [NED]

Massive corruption in Education Dept

IMPHAL, May 27: Police have swung into action following the lodging of a formal complaint by the commissioner of the Education Department at the behest of the Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education Mr L Bhagyachandra. One contractor Ch Rajeswor in collusion with corrupt officials had misappropriated Rs 300,000 from the Directorate of Education (U) on the basis of the single sanction order. [S]

Disability costs brilliant Binita medical seat at GMC GUWAHATI, May 29: Today, Binita Senapati and her parents are a disillusioned lot, heartbroken at the antipathy which the medical education department showed towards them. The Senapatis' tale began 10 years back when Binita was diagnosed with ostoeomyelitis (a bone-related disease) in her right thigh. While she was recuperating she met with an accident and fractured her right pelvic bone. [NED]

Retd headmaster held for possessing false document

IMPHAL, May 31: A retired headmaster of a government primary school has been arrested by the Vigilance department Monday for possessing a fake matriculation certificate of Gauhati University 1961, official sources said, reports UNI. [AT]

REC students vandalise AU campus, loss put at 15 lakh

SILCHAR, June 4: In a bizarre incident, at least seven hundred agitating students of the Regional Engineering College here stormed Assam University campus at Dargakona on Saturday morning and damaged assets worth Rs 15 lakhs. [NED]

Explosives recovered from school

GUWAHATI, June 6: A highly explosive hand grenade and a detonator were recovered from the false ceiling of a class room in a school by the students in Nalbari district, a PIB release said here today. [S]

Political transfer deprives teacher of salary

NAGAON, June 13: Ms Bhanu Devi Goswami, a senior assistant teacher of Dawson HS School, here has been deprived of receiving salary for the first time in her 11 years of service only because of political interference on her post under the guidance of Mr Deba Kanta Mazee, Inspector of Schools, Nagaon. According to reports, Ms Goswami was transferred to Haiborgaon High School, Nagaon by the IS, Nagaon in a post reserved for NCC teacher. In place of Ms Goswami, another teacher Ms Gita Rani Devi, assistant teacher of Juria HS School, Nagaon was transferred by the IS, Nagaon vide order No. 9214/18 on May 10.
But after public criticism, the IS, Nagaon once again transferred Ms Bhanu Devi Goswami from Haiborgaon High School to Dawson HS School on May 25, vide order No. 10260/65, and absorbed Ms Goswami in a science post under Plan category. Since no salary was made available to this Plan post by the government, Ms Goswami could not receive her salary for the month of May, said the Principal of Dawson HS School. [S]

Two school teachers suspended

SIVASAGAR, June 14 (PTI): Two schoolteachers have been suspended by the Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner for alleged negligence of census duty, official sources said today. [S]

DU students gherao registrars

DIBRUGARH, June 14: Students of Dibrugarh University (DU) today gheraoed the three registrars of the university demanding postponement of the final examinations scheduled to begin from the first week of July. [S]

DPEP's much-hyped project more of a Government propaganda

MORIGAON, June 14: Recently, there have been a surge in Government releases proclaiming the DPEP has achieved grand success in improving the primary education in Assam, and that in order to achieve 100 per cent success in enrolment and curbing out dropouts, they have also adopted various schemes. But fact has to say otherwise. Though some primary education school buildings were built in some areas of the district by DPEP at the cost of the Would Bank fund, yet the quality of primary education under the project turned out to be a cipher, it is alleged in Morigaon district. [S]

Manipur varsity officers begin indefinite strike

IMPHAL, June 16: The Manipur University Officers' Association (MUOA) began an indefinite strike from Friday in protest against the failure on the part of the university authority to implement the promotion scheme of the officers. [AT]

Candidate moves HC on illegal appointment

UDALGURI, June 19: Mr Pradip Chetry moved a petition to the Gauhati High Court against the alleged illegal appointment of Ms Pabitramaya Chetry at Bandarguri ME School. Mr Pradip Chetry was selected by the BAC Education Advisory Board to the post but the DEEO, Darrang appointed Ms Chetry violating the Government norms of appointment. [S}

Violence couldn't affect their studies NALBARI, June 22: Though Nalbari district is a hotbed of militant activities, two students of Nalbari Mahendra Narayan Balika Mahavidyalay have proved that the ongoing killings, abductions and extortions could not affect their studies. The results of Dipamani Haloi and Juri Barman, who secured 7th and 9th position respectively appearing from the MNC Balika Mahavidyalay in the HS (Arts) final examination have brought aurels to the insurgency-ridden district and proved the fact that all is not lost on the educational front in Nalbari. [AT]

Appointment of minor as teacher resented

SIPAJHAR, June 22: Resentment prevails among the public here on the appointment of a Hindi teacher at Maroi ME Madrassa school near here. The appointment was made by the District Elementary Officer, Darrang. It is alleged by a section of local public that newly-appointed teacher Nijia Hassan has not attained 18 years and the District Elementary Officer has followed an unreasonable policy of appointment. [AT]

Show cause notice issued to 15 heads of schools with dismal results

JORHAT, July 6: Keeping in view of the zero performance by 15 schools of the district in the last HSLC examination, the Inspector of School has served show cause notice to the heads of these respective schools. [S]

UGC de-recognition threat looms large over DU

DIBRUGARH, July 7: Students, teachers and employees of the Dibrugarh University often resort to agitation to press for the demands, which are mostly legitimate. But when it comes to fulfilling the norms set by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the teachers and students are found in a spot, with one alibi or the other forwarded as to why the norms cannot be met immediately. [AT]

Students get incomplete marksheets

BARPETA, July 7: The marksheets of the HSLC examination, 2000, pertaining to the Chayaram Girls' School, Barpeta has exposed another bizarre picture of the Board of Secondary Education, Assam. Altogether 45 candidates appeared from the school. While Puspanjali Das Roll-N-10-33 No. 0186 did not receive any marksheet in her name, Pinki Das, Roll-N-10-33 No.0185 of the same school received her marksheet in an incomplete state. The marksheet showed her marks in Assamese as 22-10-20-30. The rest of the columns were blank even though she had appeared for all subjects. Over and above this, the school also received a completely blank marksheet. [S]

GMCH hostel not safe for habitation

GUWAHATI, July 16: Even after the death of two students -- Mrinal Sarma in 1997 and Rana Pratap Bordoloi in 1999 -- as result of slip from corridors of Hostel No. 4 of the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), and repeated warning from the PWD wing of the GMCH to vacate the hostel to avoid further mishaps more than 100 boarders are still staying under the cracked roof of the said hostel, oblivious of the risk they are living with. The PWD has already termed the hostel as the "most unsafe" for human habitation and warned of any eventuality even to the extent of causing loss of lives of the boarders. [S]

Students of the Guwahati Blind School attending classes in a unique school made out of a boarding room for seven classes as the school does not have any other provision to hold its classes. The State has altogether six blind schools and most of them are running under pathetic condition. The Assam Tribune photo.

No Budget provision for GMCH buildings

GUWAHATI, July 17: The buildings of the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) are in urgent need of renovation. But the State Government has not made any budget provision under the '4210 Medical Education' head for the year 2000-2001, which has thrown cold water on the plans and schemes, chalked out by the PWD wing of the GMCH to renovate the hospital. [S]

IT raids in city

GUWAHATI, July 20: Income Tax (IT) officers today seized valuables and cash worth around Rs 85 lakh from the residence of Assam Public Service Commission chairman Dr Tara Prasad Das while conducting a raid. The IT officials also conducted raids simultaneously since this morning in the city residence of several officials of the DRDA, Education and Sales Tax departments, besides some professionals, for their alleged failure to conform to Income Tax regulations. The alleged defaulters in whose residences the IT officials conducted the raids today also included DRDA Project Director Subhash Borgohain, DRDA contractor Arman Sheikh, former DPI Ananda Pegu and senior advocate Anil Bhattacharyya. [AT]

Illegal teachers' appointment scam rocks Majuli

KAMALABARI, July 25: Illegal appointments of teachers in different lower primary schools in Majuli sub-division has raised hackles of the people of the area. Allegations has been made by various quarters that appointment were given to 46 such candidates in lieu of bribes ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. They received their appointment letters dated December 13, 1998 and signed by the then state director of elementary education Ananda Pegu. It also alleged that six out of 46 candidates had not passed the HSLC examination at the time of their appointment. [NED]

Arrest of ex-Dean sends ripples at AAU campus

JORHAT, July 25: A sensation of sorts prevailed at the AAU campus here on Saturday following arrest of Professor and ex-Dean Dr Dipendra Nath Dutta along with his wife Minakshi Dutta in a case of crank telephone calls being traced to their university quarter. [AT]

Evasive replies by schools on poor show in exams

JORHAT, July 28: The Inspector of School had served show cause notice to the heads of those schools in the district which had shown zero performance and those with very low pass percentage at the last HSLC examination. But the replies are feeble attempts to cover up their shortcomings and escape responsibility for the poor performance of the students. The reasons given in their replies were floods, lack of academic atmosphere, etc. Some have even blamed the parents of the students and lack of teachers. [S]

UGC may wind up its office in city

GUWAHATI, July 29: The failure of the State government to clear the house rent of the office and residential premises of University Grant Commission (UGC), NE Regional Office in the city has created the ground for the UGC authorities to wind up its NE Regional Office, alleged the Assam College Teachers' Association (ACTA) here today. [AT]

Fake homoeo institutes cause of serious concern in NE

GUWAHATI, July 31: The city has of late witnessed an abnormal growth of homoeopathic doctor chambers. This increase can be attributed to two city-based homoeopathic educational institutes, namely the National Homeo College and Associated Homoeopathic Institute, which through their postal correspondence courses, which are not recognized by the Central Homoeopathic Council (CHC), are awarding fake degrees on homoeopathic system of medicine to thousands of students belonging to not only to the city, but also other parts of the north-eastern region. [S]

Medical tests paper leak: Govt orders inquiry

GUWAHATI, Aug 1: Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) has instituted ahigh-level inquiry into reports appearing in a section of the media that answer scripts were sold for Rs 5,000 in the medical entrance test at a city centre Sunday. [NED]

Tezpur varsity classes resume today GUWAHATI, Aug. 6: The classes of Tezpur University, which had been suspended since August 3 due to devastating floods, will resume on August 7, says a release. [S]

Three teachers suspended

KOKRAJHAR, Aug 7: Three teachers were suspended by the Educational Department concerned for their alleged involvement in sorcery related killings under the Kachugaon PS in Kokrajhar district in May last, at Thaigiriguri village. According to the Government sources, Mr Bijendra Nath Brahma, Headmaster of No. 988 South Gongia LP School, Mr Bikramjit Brahma, assistant teacher, No. 565 South Gongia LP School, Mr Ajit Brahma, Headmaster of New Islampur LP School have been recently suspended from their jobs. One Mr Balendra Nath Brahma has been called for explanation. The teachers are likely to be taken to action. It may be mentioned that the suspended teachers were involved in superstitions sorcery killing at Thaigirguri under Kachugaon police station on May 25, where five persons were killed suspecting them to be witch craft practitioners. [S]

Non-payment of salaries resented GUWAHATI, Aug 7: The All Assam Vocational Teachers Association has expressed dismay over the non-payment of salaries to vocational teachers for the last 26 months. Association president Bakul Bora and general secretary Sunil Padum Konwar said in a press release that salaries have not been paid to the vocational teachers since June 1998. [AT]

Members of the Assam Vocational Teachers' Association staging a dharna at the office premises of the Directorate of Secondary Education on Wednesday demanding, among others, payment of salaries which they have not received for the last 26 months. The Assam Tribune photo.

GU teachers boycott classes

GUWAHATI, Aug 11: The Gauhati University Teachers' Association (GUTA) launched a two-day boycott of classes from today in protest against non-payment of the arrear UGC pay to the teachers of the university, says a release. The GUTA will also launch the non-cooperation with the administration from August 21 if their demands are not fulfilled, the release adds. [S]

Fake marksheets in AAU detected

JORHAT, Aug 12: The marksheets of four students who got admitted into Assam Agriculture University (AAU) have been found to be fake. The enrolment of the four students has been cancelled by the AAU authorities. The AAU Registrar informed the deputy commissioner of the matter. It may be mentioned that one of the fake marksheet suppliers is a government employee. While three of the students managed their fake marksheets paying Rs 4,500 each, the other got it paying Rs 1,000 only. [S]

Sacked teachers threaten to move court

GUWAHATI, Aug 17: "AGP-led government has ruined our families". This was a reaction of a section of teachers who lost their jobs after the Manoharan Committee report. The teachers who had assembled in the District Elementary Education office (DEEO) here today threatened to file a case to get back their jobs. "After rendering more than six years of service we will not remain silent", the teachers said. [AT]

Students crossing a bamboo bridge on the Hajo-Nalbari road, after the main bridge was washed away by recent floods. The Assam Tribune photo. Click on the photo to visit FLOODS2000 photo Gallery.

Teachers demand revised salaries, threaten stir

GUWAHATI, Aug 17: The teachers of the Guwahati Public School have threatened an indefinite strike from tomorrow onwards demanding State Government's revised pay scale for them. [AT]

Respite to over 8,000 school teachers
Govt not to implement Manoharan report

GUWAHATI, Aug 18: Bowing to public pressure the State Government has decided today not to execute the controversial Manoharan Committee report until further order. [AT]

ACTA threatens stir from August 25

GUWAHATI, Aug 19: The Assam College Teachers' Association (ACTA), a forum of 7500 strong college teachers, threatened to launch an agitational programme from August 25 in protest against non-fulfilment of its various demands. [AT]

Politicians eating into vitals of Cotton College GUWAHATI, Aug 19: Noted academic and a professor in mathematics, Rhodes Island University, USA, Dr Dilip Dutta regretted yesterday that State's education system was heading to nowhere because of political interference. Similar allegations are made nowa days by the academics of the State also. To brush off the allegations, our politicians and bureaucrats who are also at the receiving ends in some cases, have lots of excuses. But the reality speaks otherwise. Let us take the case of Cotton College, the 99-year old premier college of the NE region. Since 1990, the college has been facing an ignominious situation. It has been used by the politicians and bureaucrats allegedly as an inspiration to satiate the desires of their relations, favourites for gratifiers with their postings in the college, in a growing manner since 1990. [AT]

Punitive steps for non-performing schools

JORHAT, Aug 22: The affiliations to high and higher secondary schools with zero pass percentage in the HSLC and HS examinations for three consecutive years are likely to be cancelled. The Director of Secondary Education, Assam, ordered the Inspectors of Schools of all the districts to prepare lists of schools with zero pass percentage for three consecutive years. [S]

Uncertainty haunts non-formal education teachers

JORHAT, Aug 23: The officials including instructors and supervisors of non-formal education in the State have been without any job to do since July following the abolition of the Scheme on Non-formal Education by the Centre. Though the Centre said that it would implement a new scheme in place of the Scheme on Non-formal Education, the new scheme is yet to be announced. [S]

Insurgency hits schools in Tripura hard, teachers & students afraid of attending schools

AGARTALA, Aug 24 (ANI): Only a few months back, schools in Tripura used to teem with students. But not any more. Roofs have started collapsing and furniture corroding.
It is not that parents do not send their wards to schools. In fact, most of the teachers have fled, vowing never to return. There is a sense of fear. They have seen death very closely. [S]

AJCTA threatens agitations

GUWAHATI, Aug 24: The Assam Junior College Teachers' Association (AJCTA) has threatened to launch an agitation from August 28 in protest against non-implementation of its various demands by the State Government. [S]

Madrassa teachers to gherao Janata Bhavan

GUWAHATI, Aug 26: The All Assam Madrassa Teachers and Employees Union (AAMTEU) has decided to gherao the Janata Bhavan on August 28 in protest against the government's failure to meet its 11-point charter of demands. [S]

Police negotiating the dharna by Madrassa teachers in support of their 11-point demands at Dispur, Guwahati on August 28. Asomiya Pratidin photo.

College teachers observed cease-work

JAMUGURIHAT, Aug 28: Teachers serving in 189 deficit colleges under the State observed a 'cease-work' for not fulfilling their legitimate demands, like the introduction of pension scheme, non-payment of their arrear amount against UGC revised scale and a few other major problems which have been found neglected foryears together. [S]

Election bill not paid

DHEMAJI, Aug 29: Dhemaji District Teachers' Coordination Committee (DDTCC) expressed its strong resentment at the non-payment of last Panchayat election bills (1990) till this date. Mr Kirti Kamal Gogoi, president of the association stated that about 80 per cent of payment to the teachers who had been engaged in the last panchayat election held in 1990 are yet to be paid. [S]

CAU Students flee Manipur, foul play suspected

IMPHAL, Aug 30: The Central Agricultural University (CAU) at Ironishemba near Imphal has always been in the news since its inception. There had been allegations galore of misappropriation of university fund by some corrupt elements. Besides it was alleged that books worth several millions of rupees had been purchased in paper only. One or two vice chancellors had to leave the CAU when the students launched an ouster campaign. [S]

Middle school Science teachers up in arms

JORHAT, Aug 31: The All Assam Middle School Science Teachers Association (AAMSSTA) has decided to observe Teachers' Day on September 5 as 'demand day', in protest against non-fulfilment of their various long-pending demands, a press release of the organisation said. [AT]

Novel way of 'appointing' teachers

DIBRUGARH, Sept 1: The deputy inspector of schools here, Kumud Chandra Gogoi has evolved an innovative way to recruit school teachers, of course, in lieu of graft. His modus operandi is like this: He would put certain teachers on transfer, especially to schools where there is a leave vacancy. It was only upon some inquiries that the cat came out of the bag. All these "transferred" teachers were, in fact, fresh recuits, as no teacher of the name of the transferee existed in the school the teacher was supposed to be, prior to the "transfer". [AT]

Fake marksheets detected

NAHARKATIA, Sept 1: The marksheets of two students who tried to get admitted into Naharkatia College have been found to be fake. [S]

VC decides to quit
Assam University in deep crisis

SILCHAR, Sept 2: Barak Valley's much-cherished Assam University (AUS), in its sixth year, is in a deep crisis as the Vice-Chancellor Prof Mritunjoy Bhattacharyya has decided to quit alleging non-cooperation from various quarters ranging from teaching faculty, administrative branch to a section of local media. [AT]

Agitating principal admitted to hospital

GUWAHATI, Sept 2: A principal has been admitted to the Down Town Hospital in the city today when his condition deteriorates while resorting to a fast-unto-death agitation along with other members of the Assam Junior College Teachers' Association (AJCTA) at Dispur Last Gate in the city in protest against the failure on the part of the State Government to fulfil their various demands, an AJCTA release states. The AJCTA agitation has been going on since September 1. [S]

3 jr college teachers admitted to hospital

GUWAHATI, Sept 3: Even after three teachers -- Gyanpith College lecturer Dhruba Pathak, Hamidabad College Principal Abdul Mallah and Pitambar Dev Goswami College Principal Gana Nath -- have been admitted to the hospital for the deterioration of their health while resorting to a fast-unto-death along with other members of the Assam Junior College Teachers' Association (AJCTA) at Dispur Last Gate in the city in support of their demands the State Government is yet to respond positively. [S]

Junior College teachers on hungerstrike in Dispur, Guwahati. Asomiya Pratidin photo.

Colours of Terrorism [Editorial, The Sentinel, 3 September, 2000] When there are three or four news items on the supply of arms to uneducated, unprincipled young men of different ethnic groups of a particular society or about their training in arms, or about youths sniping at a city apartment, on the front page of a single day's issue of any newspaper, it is time to conclude that the society is very sick indeed. Here are healthy youths of more than average intelligence and enterprise who have decided to stay away from colleges, because they realize that today most university degrees are often not even worth the paper they are printed on. [S]

What ails State's secondary schools

GUWAHATI, Sept 4: Reduced number of teaching days, lack of inspection, absence of local administrative on supervisory bodies, together with the inefficiency of most of the teachers appointed on an ad-hoc basis, have led to the poor results of State's high and higher secondary schools in the examinations, said former director of Secondary Education Prof MC Talukdar here today. [AT]

'Do not interfere in teacher appointments'

KOHIMA, Sept 4: The All Nagaland Teachers Association has urged politicians not to interfere in the appointment of teachers, reports PTI. The poiticians should not interfere in the transfer, posting of teachers and refrain from utilising some members of teaching community in their election campaigns, the association said on Saturday on the eve of the millennium's first teachers' day on September 5. [AT]

Jr college teachers call off stir

GUWAHATI, Sept 5: Following the talks with the State Government and the assurance given by Education Minister Thaneswar Boro in the floor of the House yesterday the Assam Junior College Teachers' Association (AJCTA) called off its agitational programme temporarily, an AJCTA release states. [S]

Schoolboy hits classmate to death

DIBRUGARH, Sept 5: A Class IX student of the Sishu Niketan School here, Dipanjal Lahkar, hit his classmate Rajkumar Phukan who later died at the Assam Medical College today. [AT]

Manoharan Committee report
10,034 illegal appointments during '91-'96

GUWAHATI, Sept 7: There were altogether 10,034 illegal appointments of school teachers in the State between March 1991 and April 1996. There were altogether 14,544 irregular appointments too of teachers in State's schools, said the report of the enquiry committee, headed by Sri S Manoharan, IAS, which probed into the cases of illegal and irregular appointments of school teachers in the State during the period. [AT]

School murder reveals much more

DIBRUGARH, Sept 8: The murder of a Class-IX student of the Shishu Niketan school here on Teachers' Day by a classmate is the culmination of a series of anomalies perpetrated at the institution by the school's chairman of the management committee, Nila Kanta Saikia. On Teachers' Day this year, a group of four inebriated students of the Shishu Niketan school had a brawl with one of their classmates, Rajkumar Phukan, over a music cassette. [AT]

Tezpur University facing threat from erosion

TEZPUR, Sept 8: Tezpur Central University (TU), one of the finest products of the Assam Accord, established by an Act of Parliament and formally declared open by the then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao on January 21, 1994 at Napaam, 15 km east of Tezpur is today facing serious threat from the erosion caused by river Jiabhorali, one of the major tributaries of river Brahmaputra. Talking to this correspondent, sources said the snapping of the road linking Tezpur University through Pachmile area has brought all the construction activities to a halt as the Pachmile road has been badly damaged and severely eroded by the river Morabhorali, another tributary of Brahmaputra which has recently changed its course. [AT]

Retired teachers without pension

JORHAT, Sept 9: The sorry plight of teachers in the State, on whose shoulders lie the onerous responsibility of moulding the destiny of the future generations, has become a matter of grave concern. The post-retirement lives of these primary schoolteachers, who are heavily dependent on their pension to make both ends meet, have become very pathetic as a large section of such schoolteachers has been passing their days in abject poverty for not getting their pension. [S]

Cachar students boycott classes

SILCHAR, Sept 13: School and collegestudents throughout the district of Cachar boycotted their classes today in protest against the death of a college student at Syedpur under Sonai police station, eight km from here, in police firing. The boycott call was also to demand arrest of the guilty policemen and penal action against them. Eight other persons had also been injured. [S]

Diphu College problems

GUWAHATI, Sept 16: Six delegates of the Karbi Students' Association (KSA) central committee led by Hanu Ram Engti and Tarzen Hanse, president and secretary respectively met the State Education Minister, Sri Thaneswar Boro at his office chamber, on Friday and handed over a memorandum regarding the problem of shortage of lecturers at Diphu Govt. College, a press release said. [AT]

55 colleges in Assam are without permanent principals

GUWAHATI, Sept 25: Altogether 55 Government-aided colleges in the State do not have permanent principals and in-charge principals are managing the affairs in these colleges. The State has 189 Government-aided colleges with about 1,89,000 students. Though the Directorate of Higher Education of the State has asked the college authorities to appoint regular principals, a significant number of colleges have not found any suitable candidate for the post of principal, while some colleges, like the Sapatgram College, have not received any application against the posts of principals even after quite a long time since advertising the posts. [AT]

When classes are held in cowsheds! GUWAHATI, Sept 21: "God, save our students, who are the citizens of tomorrow",-- said the teachers whom this correspondent met recently in the flood-ravaged Rangiya areas. Soaked in grief and anger, these teachers narrated the sorry state of affairs at the schools of Rangiya sub-division, which was severely affected by two waves of floods this year. [AT]

AEC students facing uncertain future

GUWAHATI, Sept 22: The academic activities in the Assam Engineering College (AEC) at Jalukbari here have come to a total standstill since Wednesday as the students have resorted to a strike to fight against the uncertain future of 180 odd students of three new disciplines in the college. In an ideal example of putting the cart before the horse the AEC authorities in 1998 introduced three new courses namely, Computer Science and Engineering, Instrumentation and Industrial and Production Engineering without at first setting up the requisite infrastructure for meeting this new addition. Not a single teacher could be appointed in any of these new disciplines, let alone speak of other facilities such a laboratories or library. [AT]

AEC students on strike. Asomiya Pratidin photo.

JEC hunger strike

JORHAT, Sept 23: Over 800 members of the Jorhat Engineering College Students' Union (JECSU) under the leadership of their General Secretary Sri Dipmoni Saikia today resorted to a token hunger strike as part of an indefinite agitational programme on their institution premises in protest against non-declaration of carry (special) exam results held in August last, following which a section of students have been compelled to spend their days in a state of utter uncertainty. [AT]

JEC hunger strike

JORHAT, Sept 23: Over 800 members of the Jorhat Engineering College Students' Union (JECSU) under the leadership of their General Secretary Sri Dipmoni Saikia today resorted to a token hunger strike as part of an indefinite agitational programme on their institution premises in protest against non-declaration of carry (special) exam results held in August last, following which a section of students have been compelled to spend their days in a state of utter uncertainty. [AT]

AEC students call off stir

GUWAHATI, Sept 28: Normalcy returned to Assam Engineering College (AEC) from today as the agitating students have decided to call off their total stir last night following comprehensive assurances from the Education Minister for solving their grievances in a matter of a few months. [AT]

JEC stir called off

JORHAT, Sept 28: Following an assurance from the Board of Studies of the Dibrugarh University to fulfil most of their demands, the Jorhat Engineering College Students' Union (JECSU) temporarily called off their five-day-old strike late in the evening yesterday. [AT]

A Central University sans proper road link

TEZPUR, Sept 30: It is impossible to imagine a university, that too a Central one, without road communication with the nearest town, but that is actually the position the Tezpur University finds itself in after floods created havoc in the area. [AT]

Misuse of funds in AAU alleged
PM, Fernandes urged to institute probe

GUWAHATI, Oct 2: MLA Dilip Kumar Saikia, who is also the chairman of the Committee of Estimate of the State Assembly and a member of the Board of Management, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), on Saturday urged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Defence Minister George Fernandes to institute a commission of inquiry to probe into the allegations of financial and administrative irregularities which took place in the Agricultural University during the tenure of Dr AN Mukhopadhaya as its Vice-Chancellor. Saikia in two separate letters faxed to the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister alleged that lots of financial and administrative corruptions, including misappropriation of the Kargil Fund raised to express solidarity with the Army jawans fighting Pakistani forces in Kargil front, took place in the AAU during Dr Mukhopadhaya's tenure (May 1997 to May 2000). Saikia personally enquired into the allegations and submitted a report to the Governor of Assam, who is Vice-Chancellor of the AAU, on August 30 last. [AT]

GMC expels doctors, student

GUWAHATI, Oct 3: The Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) authorities today expelled Dr Numal Momin and Dr Chandrajit Doley, who are currently studying Pre-Registration Course Assistant (PRCA), from the GMCH and hostel for one year on charges of physically assaulting an MBBS final year student, Juned Asgar Ansari at midnight on September 2. Moreover, Mr Juned Asgar Ansari has also been expelled from hostel No. IV of the GMC for leaving the hostel on many occasions without informing the authorities. Actions have been initiated against the students as per recommendations of the inquiry committee constituted to investigate the incident of assault. [S]

Assistant teacher suspended

JORHAT, Oct 11: The Inspector of Schools of Jorhat suspended an assistant teacher of Gitarthi High School here for remaining absent for three consecutive days in September. [S]

No action on Manoharan panel report : Boro

GUWAHATI, Oct 13: Apprehending vehement protest from the people, the State Government has decided not to take any action against the appointment of teachers found illegal by the Manoharan Committee report. According to the report, over 10,000 teachers were appointed during the last Congress regime by violating the norms of the State Education department. Addressing a press conference here today, the State Education Minister, Sri Thaneswar Boro, said, "We will not take action against them on humanitarian ground". [AT]

Panchayat polls throw school academic schedule out of gear GUWAHATI, Oct 13: Even as certain quarters in the State are at work to stymie the long overdue panchayat polls once again, the process initiated by the Government and the State Election Commission in their bid to hold the election has already taken a heavy toll on school children all over the State. While it is still uncertain whether the polls could be held by the November end deadline set by the Census Authority in view of the latest High Court order related to boundary of Missing Autonomous Council area, the process has thrown the academic calender in the State into disarray much to the annoyance of these school children who have been forced burn the midnight oil with preponed annual examination schedule. [AT]

Non-formal teachers remain unpaid

JAMUGURIHAT, Oct 17: Teachers serving under non-formal education scheme have not been able to draw their honorarium for four months so far, as a report received here. As reported the teachers have not been paid honorarium for three months and 13 months for the year 1998-2000. The teachers are paid only Rs 200 per month as honorarium. [S]

Teachers, businessmen face extortion

NALBARI, Oct 17: A good number of businessmen and school teachers have of late received demand notes for huge sums of money by unidentified miscreants in the locality of Anandapur C-Block under Barbari Police Station. Letters were issued to a few teachers and businessmen in the Barbari area too, a report said. [S]

Two Govt employees arrested, suspended

NAGAON, Oct 17: Two employees of the office of the Inspector of Schools, Nagaon -- Dulal Basumatary and Bhuban Bora -- were arrested by Nagaon police last night on the charge of misappropriation of CPF money of the teachers of the district. The two employees were placed under suspension. According to sources, the two employees had misappropriated about Rs 15 lakh CPF money. [S]

Police grill DEEI staff for embezzlement

NAGAON, Oct 19: The Nagaon Sadar Police yesterday interrogated the office staff of Inspectors's office of the District Elementary Education, including Mr G Saikia, Inspector, District Elementary Education Department. It should be mentioned here that already two employees of this office named Dulal Basumatari and Bhaben Bora were arrested by police in connection with misappropriation of CPF money of the teachers of the district. However, no one was arrested by Sadar police after the interrogation. According to the police source investigation is going on to find out the actual responsible persons who had misappropriated almost Rs 15 lakh of CPF money in this office. [S]

Principal of HS school suspended

NAGAON, Oct 20: The Inspector of Schools, Nagaon, today suspended the incharge principal of Jogijan Higher Secondary School, Hillaluddin Mazumdar, for alleged immoral behaviour towards a teacher of the school who was given appointed under the Assam Accord. [S]

AASU attacks SFI general secretary

GUWAHATI, Oct 24: The general secretary of Assam State Committee of Students' Federation of India (SFI) and a secretary of the central committee, Mr Nayan Kumar Bhuyan was attacked by some members of AASU at his residence at Sorbhog on October 21, said a SFI press release. The election to the students' union was held at Barnagar Juroram Pathak Higher Secondary School of Sorbhog on October 21. AASU was badly defeated in the election and being unable to tolerate the disgrace at their defeat, the irate members of AASU attacked the office of SFI. They cut off the telephone connection of the office. The release also said that on the same night, AASU members hired some hoodlums of the locality and attacked the houses of some local CPI(M) leaders also. The attackers also abused Nayan Bhuyan's mother and sister, using filthy language infront of the police, the release added. [S]

AMC Neuro dept facing closure

DIBRUGARH, Oct 24: The State Government appears bent on ensuring closure of the Neurology Department of the Assam Medical College (AMC) here. For, almost a month after the department's associate professor has been transferred on promotion to the Gauhati Medical College (GMC), no reliever has been posted at the AMC till today. As a result, neuro patients are suffering as there is no neurological specialist to attend the outdoor department of the AMC, while students of the institution too are suffering as the night semester classes have no teacher of the specialty. [AT]

Public representation against school teacher

HATSINGIMARI, Oct 25: In a written public representation submitted to the DEEO, Dhubri with 91 signatories in all, the villagers and other leading members of Charbari area decried the involvement of Nur Islam Farazi, head teacher of Charbari ME, Madrassa in corruption and various other anti-school and anti-social activities. Alleging that the Madrassa head teacher concerned had misused school properties, the representation said that the teacher removed all the school furniture to his own house and illegally occupied 2 bighas of school land meant for school playground. [AT]

Teachers' stage dharna

GUWAHATI, Oct 25: About 300 members of the Assam High School Teachers. Association staged a sit-in-demonstration at Dispur last gate here today in protest against the State Governments apathy in resolving the demands of the teachers, according to a press release. The release also threatened a massive agitation if the demands of the teachers are not met with. [AT]

Govt interference hampering functioning of Manipur varsity

IMPHAL, Oct 26: The direct interference of the United Front Ministry, led by Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha, into the administration of Manipur University, has seriously hampered the educational activities and smooth functioning of the University. Despite the fact that an Act was amended to give more "autonomy" to the only university in the State during Chief Minister RK Dorendro's regime, the present ministry was treating Manipur University as if it was a grant-in-aid type of institution. [AT]

Dr Surya Kumar Bhuyan Library in a shambles

GUWAHATI, Oct 30: When Assam's premier institution of higher education, Cotton College, is all set to celebrate its centenary, one of the institutions major wing, the famous Dr Surya Kumar Bhuyan library, is at present in shambles. The library, which boasts of more than 1,10,000 valuable books and their reference material, is at present facing a major financial crunch and shortage of trained manpower. [S]

Assam University in turmoil

SILCHAR, Nov 1: Just a few hours after Union Minister for State Human Resource Development (HRD) in charge of Education Shahanawaz Hussain left Silchar, the Assam University experienced another night of turmoil and chaos as the outgoing Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar had to be 'rescued' at the wee-hour today from the agitating non-teaching employees. [AT]

Schoolteacher accused of rape

TEZPUR, Nov 5: One schoolteacher of Sankardev Sishu Niketan, situated near Polo Field of Tezpur town has absconded after alleged rape of an 11-year-old girl at a room in the school premises. According to eyewitnesses, the teacher, namely Ratneswar Deka, was taking tutorial class and later took the girl to a separate room where he allegedly committed the crime. [AT]

Fake marksheet racket active in Golaghat

GOLAGHAT, Nov 7: Fake marksheet racket is still active in Golaghat. This has come to light when three students of Golaghat Commerce College were apprehended by police on the charges of producing fake marksheets of HSLC examination for admission. It may be mentioned that an office assistant of the college was arrested a few weeks ago by the Guwahati police for his involvement in the scandal. In addition to this, incidences of such fake marksheet holders were reported from Athkhelia area and Mokrong area of Golaghat a few months ago. [S]

ADC expelled from examination hall

MANGALDOI, Nov 7: Nitul Kumar Baruah, an Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Morigaon was expelled from the Preliminary Law Examination at the Mangaldoi Law College centre today for adopting unfair means in the examination hall. Dr GC Goswami, principal of Mangaldoi College and officer-in-charge of the examination centre, informed that two books were also recovered from the expelled ADC. [AT]

Illegal appointment of teachers
Supreme Court upholds HC's order

NEW DELHI, Nov 9: The Supreme Court, while upholding a Gauhati High Court order quashing appointment of large number of teachers, has ruled that if an appointment is made contrary to the statutory rules, the same would not confer any right on the appointee to have a claim to the post. [AT]

Question paper folly

GUWAHATI, Nov 9: Questions worth 12 marks, asked from lessons not covered by their syllabus, in their 50-mark Hindi Fourth Paper made thousands of HSLC Test examinees of Kamrup district today distressed and their guardians and teachers worried. [AT]

Cottonians demand silence zone, set deadline

GUWAHATI, NOV 11: The students of Cotton College are demanding the implementation of a one-way traffic zone in front of the college and around the college hostels, on the plea that it is disrupting the educational atmosphere of the college. Moreover, the traffic congested roads pose a great danger to the students, who have to cross the road to reach their various departments, some of which are located in Panbazar and near Dighalipukhri. [NED]

Major financial anomalies detected in DPEP, Morigaon

MORIGAON, Nov 14: Some major financial irregularities in District Primary Education Project (DPEP), Morigaon were detected by the District Advisory Committee (DAC) to DPEP at Morigaon. [S]

7 arrested for hooliganism in AAU canteen

JORHAT, Nov 16: The police arrested as many as seven youths for hooliganism in Assam Agriculture University (AAU) canteen here last night. According to reports, a group of about 12 local youths came to the AAU canteen, threatened the workers of the canteen and asked them to make an arrangement for drinks and meat. When the students of the university opposed it a scuffle started between the students and the local youths. [S]

PGSU alleges financial mess in GU GUWAHATI, Nov 16: The Postgraduate Students' Union (GU) adviser, Mr Niren Deka yesterday alleged here that the university authorities are getting the funds from the UGC and the State Government, but are unable to utilize them and lamenting in public that there is a severe fund crunch in the university. Talking to newsmen today, Mr Deka said, during 1995-99, the GU had received Rs 5.40 crore from the State Government, out of which only Rs 1.75 crore has been spent. Similarly, it had got Rs 2.88 crore from the UGC, out of which only Rs 58.52 lakh has been spent. He said, 71 posts of teachers are still lying vacant, while French and Russian language departments have two teachers each without a single student. He said, there are 89 gardeners in the university, but not a single garden. [S]

Racketeer nabbed

GOSSAIGAON, Nov 24: One Fakhar Uddin Bhuyan, Headmaster i/c of Kembalpur High School (Failaguri) under Tamarhat Police Station under Gossaigaon subdivision in Kokrajhar district was arrested for supplying question papers in the SEBA conducted class IX annual examination, which was held from November 6 to 14. Under the initiative of Gossaigaon Anchalik unit of All Bodo Students' Union has apprehended the main culprit involved in the racket. The Gossaigaon Anchalik unit of ABSU later handed over the culprits involved in the case to Gossaigaon Police Station. [S]

GU officers launches stir

GUWAHATI, Nov 27: The Gauhati University Officers' Association (GUOA) has launched a phase of agitational programme for non-fulfilment of GUOA's long-standing demands regarding revised pay scale of officers and for release of subsequent arrear within November 30, 2000. [AT]

Assistant teacher suspended

MORIGAON, Dec 4: Mr Bhadra Kanta Bora, an assistant teacher of Morigaon Girls HS School, was suspended from service with immediate effect by the Inspector of Schools, Morigaon on the charge of his direct involvement in instigating unfair means to the students in the examinations (annual, test examinations). [S]

Two school teachers suspended

SIVASAGAR, Dec 5: The assistant teacher of Sivasagar Bhuban Chandra Gogoi Primary School, Ms Urfia Begum has been suspended by the District Education Officer for remaining absent from duty and drawing salary from April this year, despite staying with her husband in Mumbai during the period, said a local source. The source further said that the district authorities have also suspended Ms Minu Hazarika, the Headmistress of the school for not informing the officer concerned about the long absence of Ms Urfia Begum. [S]

Assam teachers vow to boycott polls, exams if demands not met

GUWAHATI, Dec 6: More than three lakh school teachers of the state under the aegis of the Assam Sikshak Karmachari Samanway Samiti (ASKSS) has threatened to boycott the forthcoming Assembly elections if the state government does not fulfill their long-pending demands immediately. The Samiti has also threatened not to cooperate in the coming HSLC examination. [NED]

South Jamugurihat plunged in darkness

JAMUGURIHAT, Dec 9: Villages like Panpur, Chengelimora, Hokama, Purani Bheti, Naramari, Thulatika and some adjacent areas to the Char-chapori part where devastation by wild tuskers has become a regular event, have been found under complete darkness in the last 20 days following the collapse of the existing transformer which was placed only a few days back.
The clear negligence of the ASEB's substation, Jamugurihat has aggrieved the local consumers during the days of the examination of the children of each family leading to adverse situation in their daily routine work. On the other hand, the scarcity of kerosene has also told heavily upon the guardians as it has become a precious commodity found rarely and at exorbitant prices, thereby creating a hellish life for the poor rural people. [S]

Missionaries in Imphal facing death threats

IMPHAL, Dec 11: The various school authorities in Manipur has decided to close down all the Christian Missionary schools in Manipur after cancelling the ongoing examinations in protest against the gunning down of Rev Father Shajan Jacob Chittinapilly by suspected insurgents on December 2 at Sugnu in Thoubal district. [S]

AASU calls Assam bandh on Dec 18

GUWAHATI, Dec 12: All Assam Students' Union (AASU) today called for 11-hour Assam bandh on December 18 to register strong protest against all sorts of killings in the State and demanded immediate removal of the Governor Lt Gen (retd) SK Sinha. [AT]

Irregularities alleged in Morigaon DPEP scheme, probe report awaited

JAGIROAD, Dec 19: There have been allegations that the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) of Morigaon has become a farce. Like the other districts of Assam, the Morigaon DPEP also received financial aid from the World Bank. It is worth mentioning that the State Fisheries Minister, Mr Babul Das, has declared that there will be a probe into the various irregularities in the programme. Allegations have been made that a section of the officers engaged in DPEP are directly involved in the irregularities. [S]

ASKSS threat of boycotting polls, exams

GUWAHATI, Dec 21: The Asom Sikshak Karmachari Samannay Samiti (ASKSS) has threatened to boycott any assignment relating to the ensuing Assembly election, H.S.L.C. examination scheduled to commence in the first week of March, 2001 if their demands are not met by the State Government. However, the final decision in this regard will be taken by the ASKSS on January 20, 2001. [S]

Another example of GU's callous attitude

GUWAHATI, Dec 23: In what can be termed as yet another act of callousness on the part of the Gauhati University (GU) authorities, a notice regarding M.Phil examinations of 2000, issued by Mr PK Deka, Controller of Examinations, GU, on December 8, 2000, reached The Sentinel only on the evening of December 22. [S]

Things back to where they were in Education Dept

GUWAHATI, Dec 26: One of the prime reasons for the slide in the functioning of the corruption-ridden Education Department of the State, apart from political interference, has been that a large number of teachers in schools and colleges are underqualified and untrained for the job. On the other hand, the Education Department has not taken any interest in training up the teachers on the plea of lack of funds. The various teachers' training institutes in the State are also lying in limbo, as a result of which the entire process of revamping the education system has come to a grinding halt. [S]

Distribution of damaged rice regretted ITAKHOLA, Dec 28: Great concern was expressed by the local people of the greater Jamugurihat area about the distribution of damaged rice among the 250 students of the Model LP School of Jamugurihat on December 26. To distribute among the 250 students, 18.26 quintal of rice had been taken from Borbhogia Cooperative Society, which was all damaged. It is to be noted here that in the rice, sands, pieces of stones and bricks were found mixed. The people of the locality expressed serious concern over the distribution of the damaged rice among the school students by the school authorities, which is given by the Government as a daily meal of the students. [S]

2001 declared 'No Ragging Year'

GUWAHATI, Dec 28: The Post-graduate Students' Union (PGSU), in a press release, has declared the year 2001 as 'No Ragging Year'. In an executive meeting held on December 21, 2000, the PGSU also appealed to the students to take admission in the hostels without any fear, the release said. The PGSU, while requesting all educational institutions of the State to ensure that ragging is abolished, also appealed to the State Government to implement the Anti-Ragging Bill in toto, the release added. [S]

'Resign from educational body panels'
AASU deadline for politicians

GUWAHATI, Dec 30: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) today set a deadline of December 31 for the Minister, legislators and other political leaders to resign from the management committees of the educational institutions. In a release here today, Sri Prabin Boro and Sri Amiya Kumar Bhuyan, the president and general secretary respectively of the AASU, said that the students' union would be forced to launch a democratic movement if the political leaders refuse to come out of the management committees of the educational institutions. [AT]

AU non-teaching staff to resume stir

SILCHAR, Dec 31: The Assam University Non-teaching Employees' Association (AUNTEA) has threatened to resume their temporarily-suspended agitation on a larger scale from January 15 if their charter of demands is not accepted by the authority within this period. AUNTEA general secretary Sri Rantu Malakar, in a letter to the Vice-Chancellor, conveying the resolution of the emergent general body meeting, urged the authority to convene an executive council meeting to solve all the pending demands within the time-frame. [AT]