New Delhi: In response to the disheartening performance of Bihar’s colleges in the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grading system, the Bihar government has taken proactive steps to address the issue. A specialized committee is set to evaluate these colleges, and the state plans to establish its own criteria for ranking educational institutions, which may influence the allocation of government grants.
Education department officials disclosed that a three-member committee, with Education Secretary Baidya Nath Yadav as a member, will undertake an extensive assessment of all 270 constituent colleges affiliated with state universities.
This move comes as only 35 colleges within the state’s university system managed to secure NAAC accreditation this year, a substantial drop from the 95 colleges accredited in 2021. NAAC accreditation hinges on a multitude of factors, including the student-to-teacher ratio, faculty quality, availability of laboratories, educational quality, research contributions, and the overall infrastructure of these educational institutions.
Beginning November 10, each of the 270 constituent colleges will be required to deliver a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation showcasing their academic activities and performance. This data will be used to create a comprehensive database for college rankings. The evaluation criteria closely align with those employed by NAAC, aimed at shedding light on the allocation of government funds and the performance of constituent colleges.
While concerns arise regarding potential conflicts between the state government and the office of the Governor, who serves as the chancellor of state universities, the state government asserts its right to scrutinize how public funds are allocated, given its role in providing grants to these colleges.
Though recent disagreements between the government and the Governor have surfaced on various issues, including salary disbursements and job postings, Raj Bhavan sources indicate that as long as this assessment contributes to the enhancement of educational quality, there should be no cause for concern. However, any attempt to curtail annual grants could jeopardize the progress of higher education.
This initiative is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to improve the educational landscape and ensure that funds are channeled effectively to elevate the quality of education provided by these colleges.
