Siliguri, June 20: Three hundred colleges and 10 universities will be established across Bengal in the next five years, state higher education minister Bratya Basu said today.
While one university will be set up in Cooch Behar, two Hindi-medium colleges and the upgrade of Hindi Madhyamik schools have been promised for the Dooars.
“The state government is planning to set up 300 colleges and 10 universities across the state in the next five years as part of our initiative to provide opportunity to all students to get the benefit of higher education at undergraduate and post-graduate levels,” Basu told journalists at the New Jalpaiguri station this morning before leaving for Darjeeling.
“Huge funds would be required for the purpose and the government is currently in a financial crisis. However, we are discussing ways to fund the establishment of the new institutions and public-private partnership is an option.”
Basu was accompanied by Gautam Deb, the minister for north Bengal development who elaborated on the education-related projects to be undertaken in the region.
Deb said the establishment of a university in Cooch Behar and Hindi medium colleges in Dooars would be of foremost importance. “We are focusing on establishing a university in Cooch Behar and two Hindi-medium colleges in the Dooars. At present, there are two universities for the six north Bengal districts and another one in Cooch Behar will be necessary to accommodate more students,” said Deb.
He said the Hindi medium colleges would come up at Birpara and Banarhaat and the agriculture university in Cooch Behar would get a facelift in all aspects, including infrastructure. The north Bengal development minister promised to look into another problem faced by students in the Dooars — lack of Hindi medium Plus Two schools.
“Although there are a number of Hindi medium Madhyamik schools in the Dooars, only a few offer Plus II courses. Most of the students have to go to places like Ranchi to complete their higher education. So, we have decided to upgrade more Hindi medium Madhyamik schools to the higher secondary level,” he said.
Basu also touched upon North Bengal University vice-chancellor Arunabha Basumajumdar’s allegation that the CPM had tried to interfere in the functioning of the varsity. “The VC of the NBU had apprised me of the issues of corruption and nepotism and the CPM’s interference in the varsity affairs. These problems persist not just in the NBU but in all varsities in the state. The Left government has politicised the education system, leading to its degradation in the past 34 years,” said Basu.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110621/jsp/frontpage/story_14139378.jsp
While one university will be set up in Cooch Behar, two Hindi-medium colleges and the upgrade of Hindi Madhyamik schools have been promised for the Dooars.
“The state government is planning to set up 300 colleges and 10 universities across the state in the next five years as part of our initiative to provide opportunity to all students to get the benefit of higher education at undergraduate and post-graduate levels,” Basu told journalists at the New Jalpaiguri station this morning before leaving for Darjeeling.
“Huge funds would be required for the purpose and the government is currently in a financial crisis. However, we are discussing ways to fund the establishment of the new institutions and public-private partnership is an option.”
Basu was accompanied by Gautam Deb, the minister for north Bengal development who elaborated on the education-related projects to be undertaken in the region.
Deb said the establishment of a university in Cooch Behar and Hindi medium colleges in Dooars would be of foremost importance. “We are focusing on establishing a university in Cooch Behar and two Hindi-medium colleges in the Dooars. At present, there are two universities for the six north Bengal districts and another one in Cooch Behar will be necessary to accommodate more students,” said Deb.
He said the Hindi medium colleges would come up at Birpara and Banarhaat and the agriculture university in Cooch Behar would get a facelift in all aspects, including infrastructure. The north Bengal development minister promised to look into another problem faced by students in the Dooars — lack of Hindi medium Plus Two schools.
“Although there are a number of Hindi medium Madhyamik schools in the Dooars, only a few offer Plus II courses. Most of the students have to go to places like Ranchi to complete their higher education. So, we have decided to upgrade more Hindi medium Madhyamik schools to the higher secondary level,” he said.
Basu also touched upon North Bengal University vice-chancellor Arunabha Basumajumdar’s allegation that the CPM had tried to interfere in the functioning of the varsity. “The VC of the NBU had apprised me of the issues of corruption and nepotism and the CPM’s interference in the varsity affairs. These problems persist not just in the NBU but in all varsities in the state. The Left government has politicised the education system, leading to its degradation in the past 34 years,” said Basu.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110621/jsp/frontpage/story_14139378.jsp