Aiming to achieve educational excellence, Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated the State’s premier Vidya Samiksha Kendra at Shishu Bihar Higher Secondary School in Agartala. This initiative, strengthened by artificial intelligence (AI) support, promises to elevate students’ academic aspirations and ensure the delivery of quality education through real-time monitoring.
Speaking at the inaugural event, CM Saha outlined the need for continued progress in Tripura’s educational landscape, highlighting the State’s literacy journey from 73.66 per cent in the 2001 census to 87.22 per cent in 2011, with aspirations for achieving 100 per cent literacy.
Pushing for more infrastructure development to remove certain significant shortcomings despite achievements in Tripura’s educational development, CM Manik expressed, “Today, in an era of globalisation, our perspectives have broadened.”
Reflecting back on his days from student life, he explained about the evident differences in curriculum and syllabus of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education and the Tripura Board of Secondary Education.
Transitioning from his role as a professor of dental surgery at Tripura Medical College and Dr BR Ambedkar Teaching Hospital, the CM underscored the remarkable achievements made in education in recent years. Accentuating the State Government’s commitment, he expressed a desire to align with the CBSE syllabus and the NCERT curriculum, aiming to further enhance educational standards in Tripura.
“Our children who study NCERT (books) and in other boards have progressed a lot while competing with students of other boards. However, these facilities (Vidya Samiksha Kendras) will help our students in competing,” remarked CM Saha.
CM Saha further spoke about his government’s commitment to extending educational opportunities to students residing in remote areas, highlighting ongoing efforts to bolster infrastructure, such as constructing new school buildings. He exuded optimism that the introduction of Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSK) would serve as a catalyst for both students and educators.
Reflecting on his own experiences as a former teacher, the CM remarked on the transformative advancements witnessed in education. He reminisced about the absence of essential training programs like BT (Bachelor of Teaching) and BEd (Bachelor of Education) courses in medical colleges during his tenure.
In the absence of modern resources, teachers had to rely on their own initiative to prepare study materials. Today, with the advent of smart classes and 3D demonstrations, the educational landscape has evolved significantly.
The Vidya Samiksha Kendras are expected to enhance learning outcomes through real-time monitoring of students’ progress, enrolment, attendance, and performance. Operating as command and control centres under the jurisdiction of the Education department, these Kendras will leverage artificial intelligence to analyse data collected from schools across the State. By identifying gaps in the implementation of educational schemes, they aim to facilitate timely resolutions to issues hindering educational progress.
Moreover, these centres will play a crucial role in monitoring teachers’ attendance, promoting accountability, empowering educators, and facilitating informed decision-making processes.
