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)