[Assam] Revamping education (The Assam Tribune,26.12.2007)

[Buljit Buragohain]

EDITORIAL 

  
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    Revamping education
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  The first open university of the State named after the great scholar, Krishna Kanta Handique, has started functioning with a six-month bachelor’s preparatory programme (BPP). In the coming days the university is expected to offer the students a choice of wide ranging subjects, including short-term need-based and vocational courses. This is a positive development, as our higher education system has been in need of a drastic overhaul. Incorporating need-based technical and vocational subjects, besides updating the syllabi to suit the demands of a changing world has been a crying need. The BPP programme started by the university is meant for those who have not been able to complete the 10+2 courses. This is significant, because every year a sizeable number of students who fail to clear the final examinations face an uncertain future and end up adding to the burgeoning unemployment problem. Degree courses apart, the university will soon be having diploma courses, certificate
 courses, teachers’ training programmes, vocational courses and research and developmental programmes. Over the years our approach to education has been theory-centric than need-based, which is having a negative impact on precious human resources. All that our education system is doing is to churn out graduates and postgraduates who are incapable of fending for themselves in an increasingly competitive world. We have been pursuing the same outdated courses for too long, turning a blind eye to the realities that demand introduction of new subjects. A pragmatic approach to education would serve the dual purpose of checking unemployment and to enabling our youths to thrive in a globalised world. The falling standard of higher education in the State, as exemplified by below-par teaching and the consequent poor results, is another serious concern. Many colleges are producing very few graduates, and that too in the lowest category of divisions despite the fact that these colleges
 have been receiving crores of rupees as grant for salary of teachers. Obviously, poor quality of teaching -- attributable to a deficient selection procedure -- is at the root of this undesirable trend. The UGC norms for teachers’ appointment are never strictly enforced in many colleges. Another imperative need is to increase the number of seats in our technical institutes, as the meagre number of seats are not conducive to the growth of technical education in the State. We need phase-wise induction of more seats at degree and diploma levels, besides setting up of more institutes. Facilitating private investment can also infuse some much-needed dynamism to this vital sector.
   
  (The Assam Tribune,26.12.2007)
   
  
                Admission Notice of Krishna Kanta Handique State Open Universityhttp://importantnews.bihu.in/1920/

   
   
   



       
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