GUWAHATI, Aug 9 - Higher education in Assam is likely to get a major boost from the next year with the State government aiming to set up 12 new degree colleges by April, 2017 and a long- term plan to start nearly 50 new degree colleges in the State.
State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while replying to a question in the Assam Assembly today said that the government would come up with the project of starting 25-26 new degree colleges next year.
The minister stated that the thrust is now on integrating the degree education with the university education on one hand, and on the other combining LP, ME, High School and Higher Secondary School education within 1036 school campuses of the State.
During the Question Hour, BJP MLA Mihir Kanti Shome asked whether the government had taken any decision for upgradation of DN Higher Secondary School and Raja Bazar RCBP HS School to the degree level to accommodate degree students in greater Udharband.
Sarma said that though current year�s Budget has no provision for such upgradation, Class XI admission would be allowed in those schools where construction of additional classes have been completed, under scheme for expansion of Science and Commerce steams, provided the existing teachers of the school are qualified enough.
�We have announced several universities in the State Budget this year and the new universities would enrol the undergraduate students. We are also consulting the existing universities to start integrated degree plus post graduate courses, which would also help the students in their specialized studies,� said the minister, replying to a supplementary question by BJP MLA Pranab Kalita on government initiative to start specialized higher educational institutions.
The Education Minister assured that steps are being taken to ensure that students do not have to face any problem due to dearth of seats in the colleges. �As the government announced free admission for poor students at degree and HS levels, many students got enrolled in several colleges this time, blocking the seats of the other candidates. To do away with this practice, from next year, stamping would be done on the backside of marksheets, after the first free admission,� he added.
The Assam Venture Educational Institution (Provincialisation of Service) Act would be brought for amendment in December this year.
