Guwahati: Amid concerns over the implementation of the four-year undergraduate programme in Assam, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu has assured that the programme will continue and that the government will address issues related to teachers, infrastructure and academic guidelines.
The assurance was given during a meeting between the Education Minister and representatives of the All Assam Students’ Union at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati.
The meeting was held following concerns raised by students over teacher shortages, lack of classrooms, laboratory facilities and uncertainty regarding the seventh and eighth semesters under the new four-year degree system.
After the meeting, AASU leaders said students who enrolled in the four-year undergraduate programme will be allowed to complete all four years in their respective colleges. This means students who have completed the sixth semester will be able to study the seventh and eighth semesters in the same institution.
The government has also agreed to allow colleges to appoint guest and temporary teachers as required. Vacant teaching posts will be filled before the next academic session, while the demand for creating additional teaching posts will be considered based on institutional requirements.
On infrastructure development, the Education Department has sought information from colleges regarding their needs. The government plans to gradually develop new infrastructure and allow nearby colleges to share laboratories, classrooms and other facilities when necessary. Unused school campuses may also be utilized for higher education purposes.
For research-oriented honours programmes, the government plans to develop advanced facilities in at least one college in every district, which can also be used by other colleges in the district.
The meeting also discussed the Honours with Research programme. It was decided that PhD-qualified teachers may be appointed as research guides at the undergraduate level, with detailed guidelines to be prepared in consultation with universities.
AASU also raised concerns about postgraduate education opportunities for students graduating from the four-year programme. The Education Minister assured that discussions would be held with universities to ensure adequate postgraduate seats and that existing seats would not be reduced.
AASU Chief Adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya said the meeting helped remove uncertainty among students regarding the future of the four-year degree programme.
The government and AASU also agreed to hold a broader discussion in the future covering educational issues from the pre-primary level to universities.
