AASU and Teachers Demand Return of Class 5 and 8 Scholarship Exams

Guwahati: The All Assam Students’ Union and the Assam State Primary Teachers’ Association want the state to bring back scholarship exams for Class 5 and 8. The government stopped these tests in 2021. Both groups met at Swahid Bhavan in Uzanbazar on Thursday to push the agenda. They handed a joint memorandum to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Education Minister Ranoj Pegu.

AASU president Utpal Sarma criticized the government for axing the exams without a clear reason. "There is a long history of scholarship examinations in Assam. These examinations have evolved over the years, with students of different classes participating in them. The Class 5 and Class 8 examinations continued from 2012 until 2020, but the government suddenly discontinued them in 2021 without providing a convincing reason," Sarma said. The scholarship reward rose from just Rs 3 years ago to Rs 5,000 by 2020.

Sarma rejected the state's claim that the process is too complex. He pointed to government advertising spending, noting officials dropped roughly Rs 450 crore on publicity between 2021 and 2026. Money is not the problem. He argued that the state favors programs like Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu while ignoring the academic competitive spirit these exams provide.

AASU chief adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya pressed for immediate action. He suggested the state may be ignoring students because they do not vote. The teachers' union stands with AASU. They threatened to hit the streets in protest if the government keeps quiet. Officials must now explain the delay and commit to restoring the tests.