Guv asks varsities to fix teaching gaps before new session, steps up faculty firing

Patna: Governor-cum-chancellor of state universities, Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, on Monday directed vice-chancellors (VCs) to ensure quality education in colleges and universities from the start of the new academic session on July 1.

He asked them to expedite the appointment of guest faculty in all 211 newly created degree colleges under the state govt’s Saat Nischaya programme, as well as in existing institutions, within a fixed timeframe. He also stressed the need for regular monitoring of classes conducted by these teachers.

Chairing a meeting of VCs at Lok Bhawan, the chancellor urged them to maintain regular dialogue with students and ensure timely disposal of genuine grievances. He also called for restoring the Chancellor’s Award scheme for students and faculty showing outstanding performance.

The meeting was attended by higher education minister Sanjay Singh Tiger, chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit, governor’s principal secretary Dipak Kumar Singh, higher education department secretary Rajiv Roushan, director N K Agrawal, and Bihar State University Service Commission chairman Girish Kumar Choudhary.

Hasnain further directed VCs to ensure timely payment of salaries and retirement benefits, proper constitution of internal complaints committees, and effective security arrangements for women on and around campuses. They were also asked to ensure fair and timely conduct of examinations and to maintain financial discipline by implementing all modules of the Samarth portal.

Reviewing the progress of 211 new colleges at the block level, he said work related to land allocation, construction, infrastructure, and faculty appointments must be completed in mission mode. These colleges should be located near block headquarters and meet all safety norms for students and staff.

The chancellor also instructed VCs to strictly follow UGC guidelines in awarding PhD degrees, organise regular faculty development programmes, and ensure optimal use of the INFLIBNET scheme by providing user IDs to students. Universities and colleges must have adequate faculty strength to improve the standard of higher education in the state, he added.