GUWAHATI, March 10 - The Cotton College Teachers� Association (CCTA) has welcomed the Cotton University Act, 2017 passed by the State Assembly on Wednesday, terming it a historic development. This is expected to benefit the students and the entire State of Assam in general, said the teachers� body.
On the other hand, students of the historic college under the banner of the Cotton College Union Society (CCUS), have opposed the legislation.
CCTA general secretary Dr Arup Kumar Hazarika told this newspaper here that the teachers of the historic college are by and large very much happy with this unanimous decision of the State Assembly and it has fulfilled a long-standing demand of the Cotton College community, including its alumni and retired teachers. This was also the demand of the conscious people of Assam for the past about three decades.
Dr Hazarika is of the opinion that this will enrich the heritage of the historic institution by providing it with the scope to dazzle in a better manner with introduction of modern courses in all branches of knowledge. This is also going to benefit the higher secondary students of the institution, as, they would be able to learn from the teachers of university level. And they would be able to perform better and the undergraduate classes of the institution will also be able to get quality students produced through this process.
CCUS general secretary Jintu Thakuria told this newspaper that students of the college boycotted their classes and took part in a ten-hour fast from 8 am on Thursday in protest against the legislation.
He also alleged that the eight-member expert committee�s recommendations, on which the legislation is based, were biased and these are designed to fulfill the personal agenda of some people. This has become clear with Wednesday�s statement of the Education Minister, which indicated that head of the expert committee Prof Mihir Kanti Choudhury �is willing� to join the Cotton University as its vice chancellor, said the CCUS general secretary.
