Assam Students and Teachers Demand Scholarship Exam Revival
The All Assam Students' Union and the Assam State Primary Teachers' Association held a joint press conference in Guwahati on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to formally demand that the Assam government immediately reinstate the Class 5 and Class 8 primary scholarship examinations. These merit-based assessments, which were conducted annually from 2012 until 2020, have been suspended since 2021.
Memorandum Submitted to Ministers
AASU President Utpal Sarma and Chief Adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya, alongside representatives from the teachers' association, have submitted a joint memorandum to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Education Minister Ranoj Pegu. The delegation questioned the government's decision to discontinue the tradition, noting that the state spent approximately Rs 450 crore on advertisements between 2021 and 2026. Bhattacharyya further critiqued the move, suggesting that student interests are being sidelined despite the continuation of other welfare schemes such as Nijut Moina and Babu Asoni.
Impact on Public Education Quality
Ratul Chandra Goswami, president of the ASPTA, emphasized that these exams represent the first significant academic recognition for primary-level students. He warned that their absence will negatively impact the quality of public education in the state. While Education Minister Ranoj Pegu had previously discussed potentially linking scholarship exams with the state’s Gunotsav program, the teachers' body noted that no formal arrangements have been finalized. The association also rejected official claims of past irregularities, arguing that any administrative flaws should be addressed through oversight rather than the cancellation of the testing program.
Warning of State-Wide Agitations
AASU has issued a formal warning that it will organize state-wide agitations alongside parents and students if the state education department fails to resume the examinations promptly. The ASPTA has similarly signaled its readiness to join these protests to ensure the scholarship scheme is restored.