Govt to take up schemes to bring back lost glory of schools of 50 years plus: Ranoj Pegu

From Sandeep Sharma

JORHAT, June 19: State Education Minister Ranoj Pegu on Saturday visited his alma mater Shankardev Seminary here 43 years after he passed out from this high school. Pegu said that the education department would take up several schemes to bring back the lost glory of schools which were more than 50 years old.

“Several institutes which had been established 100 years ago had fallen on bad days mostly due to the proliferation of private institutes. But during the early days it was from these institutes that students excelled and achieved positions in matriculation examinations every year. These institutes laid the foundation of education in the state and the government will try to regain the lost glory and prestige which these schools once held through schemes which will be implemented from next year,” he said.

The Shankardev Seminary is 108 years old.

Headmistress of the School Nibedita Baruah presented Pegu his original matriculation certificate which was retrieved from a mass of old documents. She also presented a memorandum to the minister stating the problems being faced by the school, to which Pegu said that he would rectify these.

Going down memory lane Pegu said that he had passed in first division from this institute, had played football and also taken part in debates. He said that he had also written plays.

Pegu paid rich tributes to the founder of the school Biman Baruah and to his former teachers Brajen Kataky, Kshetradhar Baruah and former headmaster and teacher Suresh Baruah, who were present on the occasion.

Jorhat inspector of schools Dibyajyoti Gogoi also attended the meeting.

Suresh Baruah said that it was a red letter day for the school to welcome a former student of the school who had attained such great heights. “We are all very proud of his achievement,” he said.

Pegu before entering the school knelt down in front of the school gates as a token of respect to his alma mater

Pegu held discussions with vice chancellor of Assam Agricultural University (AAU) regarding the vast potential of agriculture in the state and in what ways the university could contribute to its development.

He further said that the University should impart agri education in consonance with the national education policy.

Pegu also said that the university should take up research projects which would develop traditional methods of farming.