Back to drawing board

Optimise number of affiliated colleges under one university. Shift from affiliation to autonomy. Rank cradles. Train teachers. Implement graduate employment survey…

These were some of the many smart solutions that surfaced during the maiden deliberations on higher education between World Bank experts and Jharkhand academics here today.

The daylong workshop — Higher Education in Jharkhand: the Way Forward — brought together key policy-makers, renowned academics and stakeholders under one umbrella to prepare a feasible roadmap to advance knowledge standards in state. Expectedly, the discussions analysed threadbare a gamut of problems plaguing higher education in the state.

Besides World Bank’s senior education economist (HRD, South Asia) Andreas Blom and the vice chancellors of all five state universities, IIM-Ranchi director M.J. Xavier and HRD secretary Mridula Sinha were also present. Inaugurating the session, HRD minister Baidyanath Ram said the workshop was aimed at bringing about qualitative changes in higher education. “Let the suggestions come, we will act on them.”

Speaking on the occasion, vice chancellor of Hazaribagh-based Vinoba Bhave University (VBU) R.N. Bhagat exposed acute staff crunch. “We conduct as many as 22 postgraduate courses, but only five of them have regular teachers. Besides, we have 40 per cent of the sanctioned strength of non-teaching staff,” he said.

Eminent academic K.K. Nag, who had been the vice chancellor of two state varsities, was more candid. “I must confess on this platform that I have had very sad experience. Since 1982, there has been no direct appointment of teachers for postgraduate departments of various varsities in the state. What kind of academic excellence can we expect under such circumstances?” he said.

Nag also advocated a transparent teacher selection process by respective varsities instead of through examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC). “Please do not make any appointments through JPSC,” he urged. “If a central university can appoint a regular teacher, then why not state varsities. The idea is to make the process transparent.”

He also ridiculed the higher education pay structure. “Teachers do not get salary on time. Arrears based on recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission (1996) is due even while the Sixth Pay Commission (2006) exists,” he pointed out.

Sudhir Tripathy, principal secretary to the governor-cum-chancellor of universities, said that some of the reputable autonomous and constituent colleges should be roped in to play mentor for struggling cradles, a suggestion that was spontaneously seconded by all and sundry.

Ranchi University vice chancellor A.A. Khan said it would be of great help if the state considered forming a State Knowledge Commission on the pattern of National Knowledge Commission. His Kolhan University counterpart, S.K. Roy, was more practical in his approach. “As an administrator, we know there is problem at the basic level (read poor infrastructure),” he said.

Vice chancellor of Daltonganj-based Neelamber-Pitamber University M. Firoz Ahmad chipped in that higher education infrastructure was the worst in the Naxalite-hit Palamau region.

“When I first visited JS College in Daltonganj, the building looked like the ruins of Mohenjo-daro. The thrust should be on basics,” he added.

World Bank’s senior education economist (HRD, South Asia) Andreas Blom agreed. “Issues like poor infrastructure, delayed pay and teacher crunch need to be addressed first. There is also an urgent need to change old policies and implement capacity building exercises,” he said.

“Despite India excelling in IT, shortage of skilled manpower is a constraint in power and road industries among others. We are working with the Government of India and respective states, particularly backward ones, to improve things. At this juncture, we are suggesting measures that needed to be taken. If a concrete proposal comes up, we are ready to help in bringing about changes in the higher education system,” he added.