Guwahati: Authorities all the 301 government and government-recognized colleges in Assam have been asked by the education minister, Dr Himanta Bishwa Sarmah to activate/install biometric attendance machines to ensure presence of teachers in the institutions while a new college admission procedure is being worked out.
In a meeting held with the Principals of these colleges, the minister made it clear that from now onwards college teachers will have to devote more time teachings students than for research works. He pointed out that education being a state subject, the college teachers can’t defy state government’s directive to attend maximum number of classes possible citing their engagement in research activities as per UGC guidelines.
The colleges have been asked to set up digital library and wi-fi at the library and the office of the Principal. The minister directed the college teachers and principals to do away with the practice of rushing to the office of the Director of Higher education in Guwahati for resolution of all the issues and advised them to resort to the system of e-mail communication with the directorate. He said a system would be put in place soon so that college principals could be in touch with the education minister through e-mail.
All the government-owned and government-recognised colleges in the state have been asked to start at least two vocational courses as mentioned in the vision document of the ruling BJP. Each of the colleges has to adopt at least three high-schools for the purpose popularizing science education among school children and college teachers will have to take science classes in those schools periodically.
The colleges have been asked to put off their admission to degree courses and higher-secondary courses till June 20 , before which the state government in principle formulate a new admission procedure.
The state government is contemplating to facilitate free college education for eligible students from poor and lower middle class families.
