Govt to give Rs 50 cr for community colleges

SHILLONG: The state government is set to sanction Rs 50 crore for nine community colleges with an aim to make higher education accessible to students from rural areas.
Speaking to media persons after the Cabinet meeting here on Thursday, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said there are two categories of community colleges, brown field (existing colleges which will get one-time investment of Rs 2 crore) and green field (newly set up colleges at a cost of Rs 10 crore each).
Sangma mentioned that the one-time capital expenditure for setting of the nine community colleges will be Rs 50 crore while the recurring expenditure will be Rs 53.106 crore.
The recurring expenditure pertains to salary of teachers that will be in conformity with UGC norms as the idea is to attract the best of brains to these community colleges where the post of teacher is non-transferable.
Under Phase I approved by the Cabinet, colleges falling under the brown field category include Nongstoin College, Tirot Sing Memorial College, Ri Bhoi College, Shangpung College and Jaintia Eastern College, Khliehriat.
The new community colleges will be set up in Tura, Ampati, Chokpot and Rongjeng, he said while informing that these colleges will have Science, Commerce and Arts sections.
“This is one of the best models to ensure that
students from rural areas have a dedicated college in their own backyards. Our approach is to go beyond the state capital,” Sangma said.
To a query, the chief minister said teachers will be appointed by a governing body that will be drawn from the government and the community.