Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha on Saturday criticized the CPIM for misleading people as the elections are approaching and also slammed the party for neglecting the state’s education system during its tenure.
He said that Khetramohan School will be built while maintaining the same quality as Shishu Bihar School. Smart classes with English-medium education will be arranged at the school. It will be upgraded up to Class XII in stages.
Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha said this after visiting Khetramohan School in Shanti Para, Agartala, on Saturday.
Dr Saha said Khetramohan School is a very old school. Many years ago, there was a school here. There were classes and teachers. But with time, it closed.
“After taking charge, I decided to make this school a new school with good quality in a new way. Many people have become doctors after receiving education from this school. So, they also wanted the school to start its journey anew. The state government has taken special initiatives in recognition of that wish,” he said. The Chief Minister said there was such a school in the middle of the city.
“But at that time, no one took care of it. Rather, it was like a rehabilitation centre. For 35 years, the CPIM leaders and their cadres were rehabilitated here. No classes were conducted. They did not show any sense of responsibility towards the students. So now that the opportunity has come, importance has been given to the development of the school", he said.
Dr Saha said that the foundation stone of this school has already been laid. The G+4 building will be constructed. The allocation has also been decided.
"This school will initially be Senior Basic, that is, up to Class VIII. There will be 16 classrooms. Classes will be held in shifts initially. Later, it will be upgraded up to Class XII. The government intends to make it an English-medium school. I have said that it should be of the same quality as Shishu Bihar School and should be of a higher standard with a competitive approach,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said he came to the school today for an inspection and had received information that the construction work was progressing slowly.
“After coming here, the construction company has assured us that the building will be handed over in January. I have told them to complete the construction work quickly. Some land may have to be acquired from the front. We are working towards building a school that is worth seeing. We want a good-quality school to be built in this area. Efforts are being made to reduce the study pressure on the surrounding schools and bring students here. Through this, local children will get the opportunity to study. The issue of the road to and from this school is also being examined. Land acquisition has also been discussed if necessary,” he said.
The Chief Minister also informed that two lifts will be installed in the school under construction. Each lift will have a capacity of 15 people.
“There has been talk of making every subject, starting from the benches, part of a smart-class system. But how was the education system during the previous government? If there is a will, a way will be found. And now that the village elections are over, the opposition has started talking nonsense about the development of urban areas. The Opposition Leader is saying that there has been no development in urban areas. So, come and see the picture of development yourself", he said.
The Chief Minister said since the elections are ahead, oppositions has started talking about misleading people.
"Because this is their habit. Their former chairman of the municipal council says, ‘After the BJP government came to power, whatever is being demanded is being given. The roads are becoming beautiful,’” he added.
During the inspection, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Ratna Dutta, Chairman of the Central Zone of Agartala Municipal Corporation; Kiran Gitte, Secretary of the Public Works Department; Dr. Samit Roy Chowdhury, Director of Education; and other senior officials of the concerned departments.