Himanta cracks whip on colleges, seeks better results

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, June 8: The Assam government is planning to introduce the biometric system for teachers’ attendance in every college, Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today, categorically stating that the faculty should be invariably present at the college during class hours.

Making a slew of announcements at a meeting of college principals at Cotton College here, Sarma said there would be “absolutely no compromise” on the quality of education and asked the institutions to better their results.

“The government will support the educatiol institutions, but at the same time the teachers should also fulfill their responsibilities,” he said.

Sending out a strong message, the Education minister suspended a principal during the meeting itself for failing to compile a data on girl students of his institution sought by the Education department.

The suspended principal of Algapur Science College, Dilwar Hussain, admitted lapses on his part which prompted the Education minister to take the drastic step.

Announcing the plan to introduce biometric system of attendance for college teachers, Sarma said, “Whether he or she has to take a class or not, every teacher will have to come to college on time and leave after the end of class hours.”

Sarma also asked every college to introduce at least one vocatiol subject in their curriculum and adopt three schools.

He also indicated that the government might waive off a portion of fees for poor students.

“The admission fees in a college come to around Rs 10,000/12000. Poor students who perform well in high school find it difficult to take admission in a college. We will discuss the matter with the Chief Minister and in 3-4 days we will make an announcement,” he said.

The minister also said libraries in the colleges will be digitalized, while the government will also explore the possibility of introducing WiFi access in the library, principal’s room and administrative blocks in the colleges.

The Education minister also said advertisements to fill up vacant posts in the colleges will be published shortly.

ON CARDS

*    Biometric system of attendance for college teachers

*    College libraries to be digitalized

*    Wifi in libraries, principal's room and administrative block

*    Vocatiol subject in every college

*    Colleges told to adopt three schools

*    Government likely to waive of admission fees of poor students