SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: Education Minister Ranoj Pegu who is on a 3-day visit to the valley began his itinerary by holding discussion here with provincialised college principals and departmental officers of Cachar on Thursday at the Circuit House here. During his discussion with the principals, he laid down before them the proposed concept of having a centralised policy for appointment of teaching and non teaching staff in colleges which will be hassle free and time saving.
Dr Manoj Paul, Principal of Women's College, said the procedure and process now being followed in appointments is no doubt cumbersome and delayed months in giving effect to a teacher or non teaching staff appointment. Appointment for colleges by a central body under the Education Ministry will no doubt be an easier process to help the institutions to maintain scholastic calendar in the overall interest of teachers and students. One of the main constraints faced by heads of the institutions or centres of higher education is the acute shortage of teachers and office staff.
A few colleges are lucky to have less problem and classes are not affected. In general, the scenario in colleges is the same with principals crying for more man power. The premier 86 year old Gurucharan College is faced with acute shortage of human resources. COVID waves have abnormally held up appointments of teachers as well. But, to say centralised appointments will put an end to all problems is also far-fetched. "There is both merit and demerit and it has to be discussed threadbare and properly evaluated before any decision is taken. The basic factors of delay, transparency and administrative wrangling at DHE office can't be ruled out," pointed out Dr Joydeep Biswas, a teacher of repute with years of teaching experiences.
Later on talking to the mediapersons, Ranoj Pegu said he has the plan to make this valley a hub of education. The blue print for that will be given shape after talking to academicians, educationists, officials and intellectuals. The valley has rich academic infrastructure with schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, T T colleges, veterinary college, medical college, a university and NIT. This is a welcome step if the Minister is contemplating about such a hub. The Education Minister after visiting Women's College and NIT left for Hailakandi.