The decision to make Sanskrit a compulsory subject by the Assam Cabinet till class 8 met with sharp criticism from the student organizations and opposition political parties. The decision was criticized by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) as instead of promoting Assamese in the schools they made Sanskrit a compulsory subject.
"We are not opposed to the Cabinet decision of making Sanskrit compulsory in the schools under the state board but the government should clarify whether now there will be the four-language formula in Assam instead of the three-language formula followed in other states", AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said today.
Moreover, there can be no compromise with the teaching of Assamese in schools and the language has to be a part of the syllabus in the state, he added.
Shortage of teachers who can teach Sanskrit
He further added " AJYCP is not opposed to Sanskrit in the schools since it is the "ancient language which needs to be promoted and preserved in schools and colleges but we are concerned by the way the government is trying to impose the subject in the state when it knows very well that there is a shortage of Sanskrit teachers in the state."
The state government was preparing to "recruit Sanskrit teachers from outside since the state now lacks the required strength but we won't allow teachers from outside the state to be recruited in our schools," AJYCP President Biraj Kumar Talukdar said in a statement.
A conspiracy
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi alleged that the state Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was trying to warm up to the RSS and making Sanskrit compulsory was a step in that direction.
"The state government should have taken more interest and initiative to introduce Assamese in all schools in the state, including those under the Central Boards instead of imposing Sanskrit", he added.
Tags: Sanskrit
Sanskrit In Assam
Sanskrit Subject In Assam
