Assam: Protests swept across all district headquarters of Assam as the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) led demonstrations to spotlight long-standing educational challenges faced by the Bodo-speaking population.
A significant gathering took place at Bodofa Children Park in Kokrajhar City, where ABSU leaders and community members called for urgent government action to address critical demands aimed at improving education for the Bodo community.
Among the key demands presented by the protesters were:
- Inclusion of the Bodo language in Assam Judicial Service Examinations.
- Incorporation of the Bodo language in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET).
- Establishment of 35 new Bodo-medium high schools.
- Upgradation of 101 Bodo-medium high schools to higher secondary schools, alongside recruitment of qualified teachers.
- Immediate provincialization of venture schools under Clause 6.3 of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Accord.
- Filling vacant teaching positions and addressing dropout rates in Bodo-medium schools.
ABSU leaders stressed that these demands, which have been pending for years, are essential for ensuring equitable educational opportunities and fostering the growth of the Bodo-speaking community.
“The delay in addressing these issues continues to hinder the educational aspirations of our youth,” an ABSU representative said, adding that the government’s intervention is critical to securing the future of Bodo-medium education.
The protests drew widespread support from community members, educators, and students, who united in urging the government to fulfill its promises under the BTR Accord and implement reforms to strengthen the Bodo-medium educational infrastructure.
As the demonstrations concluded peacefully, ABSU leaders warned of intensifying their movement if concrete steps are not taken promptly to resolve the issues affecting the community.