Guwahati: Assam govt on Wednesday dismissed reports that people from “outside” had been barred from visiting govt schools, clarifying that citizens and guardians remain free to visit schools and offer suggestions.The clarification came after Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convener Ashutosh Ranka and associates from Raijor Dal and the Assam Jatiya Parishad visited a govt primary school in Rampur, Kamrup, and flagged alleged lapses. The visit led to speculation that the state govt had barred “outsiders” from entering schools amid allegations that the CJP team had entered the premises posing as govt officials. The CJP launched its “School Thik Koro Abhiyan” in Assam on Monday.In a social media post on Wednesday, the Assam CM’s office said reports that permission was required to visit government schools were “totally fake & bereft of truth”.“People and guardians can visit schools as usual without any restrictions,” it said.Education minister Ranoj Pegu said show-cause notices had been issued to two cluster resource centre coordinators (CRCCs) in Kamrup (Metro) for circulating a false WhatsApp message about restrictions on school visits by civil society members.“I hereby clarify that the School Education Department has not issued any notice or circular restricting anyone from visiting government or provincialised schools,” Pegu said in a social media post.“Guardians and citizens are welcome to visit our schools and offer suggestions. However, visitors must ensure that regular classes are not disrupted and that the academic atmosphere is maintained,” he added.Pegu told mediapersons that parental and community participation was an important part of school functioning, with parents constituting 75% of the members of school management committees.“We will consider and examine those suggestions, and after due study and deliberation, take whatever steps are found necessary,” he said.
