History of the Elementary Education Department
The Elementary Education Department in Assam has been functioning since July' 1977 for the development of education in the State. Article 21-A, as inserted by the Constitution (eighty Sixth) amendment Act, 2002, provides for free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to fourteen years as a fundamental right in such a manner as the State may, by law determine. The above legislation is anchored in the belief that the nature of equality, social justice and democracy and the creation of a just and humane society can be achieved only through provision of inclusive elementary education to all. The preamble to our constitution suggests that each State will have to make necessary infrastructure for enabling a child to have the said education. The expected education must be satisfactory and equitable.
History of the Organizations/Directorates under Elementary Education Department are listed below:
The Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam was established as a separate establishment in July, 1977, with its Head quarter at Kahilipara, Guwahati – 19, for management of Elementary Education to achieve the objectives - (1)To decentralize management at schools up to Block level, and (2) To organize activities towards attainment of universalization of Elementary Education (UEE). Directorate of Elementary Education is responsible for administration control, development and expansion, inspection, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of Elementary Education in Assam. The services of all Sub-divisional Education Officers (Deputy Inspector of Schools) and other subordinate officers (Block Elementary Education Officer /Sub-Inspector of Schools) all over the state have been placed under this Directorate.
SCERT, Assam, as a state counterpart of NCERT, has been continuously involved in improvement of quality school education and teacher education of the state since its inception in 1985. SCERT, Assam as the State Academic Authority for the state under section 29(I) of RTE Act 2009 is developing textbooks for elementary stage of Assam in the light of National Curriculum Framework in all mediums of instruction and also the procedure of pupils' evaluation for elementary education. It has consistently been working for quality improvement of teacher education system of the state in compliance with the section 23 of the RTE Act, 2009. SCERT is conducting various surveys and researches related to problems and prospects of elementary education and publishing various materials for facilitating teachers and teacher educators to become professionally competent to deal with experiential and reflective learning practices.
Assam State Textbook Production & Publication Corporation Limited was established on 30th March 1972 under the Indian Companies Act, 1956. ASTPPC is an autonomous body which is under the administrative control of the Department of Education (Elementary), Government of Assam. The Assam State Textbook Production and Publication Corporation Limited publishes and distributes textbooks from Ka-shreni to class-X. As per Govt. policies all the textbooks are distributed as free textbooks.
English Language Teaching Institute, Assam (ELTIA) is an autonomous organization established by the Department of Education, Govt. of Assam under the Societies Registration Act 1860 in 1986. ELTIA conducts various ELT programmes for the teachers of English of lower primary, upper primary and secondary schools of Assam. It also conducts refresher course for the subject teachers of English of Assam on request.
Asom Sishu Sahitya Nyas (Children's Literary Trust ,Assam) was Constituted by the Govt. of Assam vide Notification No EPE. 16/85/98, dated 23rd March, 1987). he trust began its journey as a publisher by publishing five books translated from English to Assamese in 1987.The Children's Literary Trust, Assam, to its credit, has 174 titles with two remarkable publications. These two publications are –an illustrated children's dictionary and a unique collection of children's drama which contains 29 children's drama .Its objectives are to Publish books and periodicals to help, encourage, promote, Improve quality of, and assist in spreading education by diffusion of knowledge among children relating to literature, art, and science and other useful knowledge.,to provide elementary education and training in art, sculptures, handicrafts, and other allied matters to children etc.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was started in the state of Assam in the year 2001 (registered under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860 for implementation of SSA in Assam) to provide for a variety of interventions for universal access and retention, bridging of gender and social category gaps in elementary education and improving the quality of learning. SSA interventions include inter alia, opening of new schools and alternate schooling facilities, construction of schools and additional classrooms, toilets and drinking water, provisioning for teachers, regular teacher in service training and academic resource support, free textbooks& uniforms and support for improving learning achievement levels / outcome. With the passage of the RTE Act, changes have been incorporated into the SSA approach, strategies and norms.