Shri Raju Basnet,
Hon’ble Minister,
Education, Law, Sports
& Youth Affairs Departments,
Government of Sikkim
Sir,
First and foremost, congratulations on your recent election
victory and your appointment as the Minister, Education Department, Government
of Sikkim. I am both honoured and pleased to have you leading our education
sector. As a stakeholder within your department, I am optimistic and have high
expectations that under your leadership, our education system will flourish and
undergo meaningful reform. We are fortunate to have a dynamic leader like
yourself at the helm.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Education
Department for the recent circular Ref. no. 238/adm/edn, dated 20/7/2024
regarding the Independence Day celebration. It was thoughtful of the department
to make such a decision, as this had been a problem hindering the teaching and
learning process at government schools in rural areas.
Since the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was enacted
by the central government, the Government of Sikkim has made commendable
progress, particularly in implementing new pedagogical methods and frequent
teacher training programs. The NEP 2020's focus on foundational literacy and
numeracy is commendable, and the government has made significant strides in
this area.
As a part of the NIPUN Bharat programme and being deputed as
the mentor teacher for special numeracy, I would like to make one request to
the department. It would be beneficial if the Independence Day celebration were
limited to 1-3 days, especially in the schools where the special numeracy program
is ongoing. Currently, there are a total of 274 schools where special numeracy
initiatives are being implemented. Teachers receive weekly training and need to
carry out the new pedagogy for a month. I believe even a week-long celebration
would impact this process.
Additionally, we are already facing issues with low
enrollment in primary sections and high dropout rates in government schools. It
would greatly benefit the educational environment if schools could operate
without such extended interruptions, allowing learners to focus on their
studies and teachers to teach effectively.
Furthermore, I would like to suggest the development of
public grounds at the GPU level to provide entertainment for the public while
allowing schools to function independently and without disturbance.
I trust that you will understand these concerns and take
appropriate action to address them. Thank you for your attention to this
matter.
Sincerely,
A dedicated teacher, Sikkim
(Name withheld on request)
