The Assam government has decided to shift the academic year of schools to April-March from January-December in order to make-up for academic loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. The current academic session will end on March 31, 2021 announced Assam Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on his official social media account.

He said, “The academic calendar of each class shall be decided by the concerning academic authorities after proper consultation keeping in view the local climate and other factors.”

The Board of Secondary Education Assam or SEBA, the secondary education regulatory board in the state had started a portal where education stakeholders had been asked to submit their suggestions regarding the change of academic sessions in schools.

Sarma said in a press conference on May 23 regarding the Assam new academic year, “We have asked people to submit their suggestions on starting the academic year…this will make-up for the COVID-19 lockdown loss…we will make a decision in the first week of June.” The decision was finally taken on June 29.

All educational institutions in Assam are closed from March 15 and a decision regarding the reopening of the schools is awaited. Sarma added, “Due to (the) COVID-19 pandemic, educational Institutions are closed from March 15. In order to compensate the loss of academic days, after due consultation with stakeholders, Cabinet has decided to revise the Academic session of schools from 1st April to 31st March.”

Source: NDTV

Also read: Schools and colleges to remain closed till July 31: MHA guidelines