Guwahati, Jan 30: Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday expressed concern over the not-so-satisfactory gross enrolment ratio in higher education in Assam which was highlighted in the recently published All India Survey on Higher Education.
According to the Survey, the gross enrolment in the State is stuck between the 17 to 18 percent range despite massive investments in the higher education system in the past decade or so.
The Chief Minister said this while speaking during a review meeting on the Progress of the Implementation of NEP 2020 in Higher Educational Institutions of Assam which was organised by the Raj Bhawan in collaboration with the Higher Education Department and the General Administration Department (GAD).
Sarma stressed upon the need for a holistic approach so that the State can attain a more desirable gross enrolment ratio in days to come and added it is the duty of all concerned to see that higher education is made more accessible and affordable for all those who are eligible, irrespective of his or her socioeconomic status.
The Assam Chief Minister hinted at exploring the possibility of introducing a new system of scholarship for pursuing courses in higher education in institutions by eligible students across the State. He said higher educational institutions campuses should become an epicenter of students’ welfare and institutions may look into the possibility of creating a post of Director of Student Welfare for that purpose.
“Students resorting to agitation for matters ranging from educational and course-related issues to political subjects, among others, is a reflection of an educational institution’s failure,” he said.
Appreciating the Governor Kataria, the Chief Minister said the Governor has been relentlessly pursuing the State administration and the higher educational institutions across Assam to implement the provisions of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 since the very beginning of his tenure here.
He urged upon the Vice-Chancellors of universities across the State to do everything within their capacity so that students can look up to them as role models in leadership and the welfare of all subordinates.
“It is incumbent upon the Vice-Chancellors to see that their respective institutions are doing justice to the purposes behind their establishments, the Chief Minister stated.
Stating that there is no place for irregularities in recruitment to fill up vacancies in contemporary Assam, Chief Minister Sarma appealed to the heads of higher educational institutions across the State to root out all kinds of nepotism and favoritism from their respective campuses.
He also called upon the concerned government officials and heads of higher educational institutions to work on a uniform academic calendar. He further asked the heads of higher educational institutions to draw up institutional development plans taking into consideration the demands and requirements of the contemporary educational scenario in the country.
He also appealed for the optimum deployment of resources at the disposal of higher educational institutions. He further added that the promotion of female education has always been a priority area for the current dispensation in the State and that numerous far-reaching measures can be expected in this regard in days to come.
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