GUWAHATI: In a move to streamline secondary education management, the Assam Legislative Assembly has passed the Assam State School Education Board Bill during its ongoing Budget session on February 7.
The bill, which proposes the merger of the state boards responsible for conducting Class 10th and 12th examinations into a unified entity, marks a significant step towards reforming the state’s education landscape.
Under this legislation, the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA), overseeing the High School Leaving Examination (HSLC) for Class 10, and the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), responsible for Class 12 examinations, will combine to form the new Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB).
The decision to consolidate the two boards into ASSEB aims to enhance coordination, standardisation, and oversight in school education across the state.
Education Minister of Assam, Ronuj Pegu, said, “The objective is to develop, regulate, and supervise the standards and quality in school education in the state of Assam.”
The ASSEB, once established, will be led by a chairman appointed by the government, supported by individual vice-chairmen overseeing the divisions, also nominated by the government.
The board will comprise 21 members serving three-year terms, renewable for an additional period, ensuring representation from diverse sectors of the education community.
The decision to merge the boards was initiated during a state cabinet meeting held in November 2023, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The move comes close on the heels of two question papers leak during the Class 10 board examinations conducted by SEBA in 2023.
In March of the previous year, instances of question paper leaks occurred for the general science and Assamese subjects.
Consequently, SEBA and the government were forced to reschedule examinations for general science, all subjects under Modern Indian Languages (MIL), which include Assamese, and English (IL).
