In a significant boost to employment generation in the northeastern state, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma distributed appointment letters to 8,206 new recruits in the education sector on Thursday, marking another milestone in the state's massive recruitment drive.
Record-Breaking Employment Figures
The ceremony, held on November 14, 2025, witnessed the Chief Minister personally handing over appointment letters to candidates selected under three key educational bodies: the Directorate of Higher Education, Directorate of Secondary Education, and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
With this latest recruitment, the total number of candidates who have secured government jobs during the tenure of the present government has reached an impressive 1,34,999, significantly surpassing the pre-election promise of providing one lakh merit-based government positions.
Transparent Recruitment System Praised
Addressing the gathering, CM Sarma emphasized the transformative nature of the current recruitment process. "Getting a job without paying even a single rupee is a true achievement and this transparent system has opened the door to many competent youth of the state," he stated proudly.
The Chief Minister contrasted the current merit-based system with the practices prevalent before 2011, when teacher recruitment in Assam was allegedly marred by political interference and nepotism. He revealed that in college teacher appointments during that period, positions were often filled based on political considerations, with instances of two or three teachers being appointed against a single sanctioned post.
Educational Reforms and Future Vision
Sarma credited the introduction of Teacher Eligibility Tests (TET) in 2011 for bringing much-needed reform to the recruitment system, though he acknowledged the political challenges faced during the implementation process. "If recruitment is not done on merit, the public education system will collapse, and Assam can never become one of the leading states of the country," he asserted.
The Chief Minister highlighted several key aspects of the government's educational vision:
- Mathematics teachers have been appointed for the first time in secondary schools
- New medical and engineering colleges, AIIMS, and an IIM have been established or are coming up in Assam
- Plans to send qualified and skilled Assamese youth abroad to benefit from foreign exchange inflows
- Focus on creating an environment where students enjoy learning mathematics
Breaking down the 8,206 appointments:
- 263 Assistant Professors and 110 Grade III staff under Directorate of Higher Education
- 1,275 Postgraduate Teachers (PGTs) and 6,522 Graduate Teachers (GTs) under Directorate of Secondary Education
- 28 Lecturers in District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) along with 8 Assistant Directors under SCERT
The Chief Minister concluded by emphasizing that while infrastructure like roads can be built overnight with money, it takes time for a teacher to build a student, underscoring the critical importance of a sound public education system for Assam's development.
