Assam Government Approves Merger Of SEBA And AHSEC

In a significant move towards educational reform, the Assam Cabinet has given its nod for the merger of the Secondary Education Board of Assam (SEBA) and the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC). The amalgamated entity will now be known as the ‘Assam State School Education Board‘ (ASSEB). This decision is aimed at enhancing the quality and standards of school education in the state.

Formation of Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB)

• The official statement released by the government highlighted the primary objective of the merger – “To develop, regulate and supervise the standards and quality of School Education.”
• SEBA, which has been responsible for conducting Class 10 examinations, and AHSEC, entrusted with overseeing Class 12 board examinations, will now function as a unified board under the banner of ASSEB.

Amendments to Education Service Rules

• To facilitate a seamless transition and optimize the functioning of the new board, the Assam Cabinet has approved two key amendments:
• 1) The Assam Secondary Education (Government Schools) Service (2nd Amendment) Rules, 2023
• 2) The Assam Secondary Education (Provincialized Schools) Service (2nd Amendment) Rules, 2023.

Streamlining Teacher Recruitment

• A major aspect of the amendments involves streamlining the recruitment process for graduate and postgraduate teachers, including subject teachers in vocational subjects.
• The objective is to ensure a balanced pupil-teacher ratio, maximize the effective academic support to students, and prevent any adverse impact on academic activities at the secondary level in Provincialized/Government Schools.

Assurance of Job Security

• Addressing concerns about the employment status of those associated with SEBA, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on June 6, assured that the merger would not result in job losses for SEBA employees.
• This commitment to job security is in line with the government’s efforts to manage the transition smoothly and mitigate any apprehensions within the education sector.

Alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

• The decision to merge SEBA and AHSEC aligns with the broader vision outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• By creating a unified education board, Assam aims to provide a more cohesive and standardized approach to school education, fostering better learning outcomes and academic excellence.