STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Assam has some colleges that are yet to come under the assessment of the NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) and some NAAC-assessed colleges whose assessments have not been renewed. The wrath of the State Government awaits such colleges.
The NAAC conducts assessment and accreditation of higher educational institutions (HEI) such as colleges, universities, or other recognized institutions to derive an understanding of the ‘Quality Status’ of the institution. This assessment is a must for all such institutions.
Assam has 337 colleges. The Directorate of Higher Education is examining to ascertain how many colleges in the state have not applied for assessment by the NAAC and how many colleges’ accreditations have expired. According to the rules, the colleges have to register themselves with the NAAC and invite it for the assessment in a prescribed procedure. After the invitation, the NAAC visits such colleges according to the specified procedure, which takes around a year. After the assessment, the NAAC grades the institutions.
Initial examination by the Directorate has revealed that the state still has 44 colleges that are eligible for NAAC accreditation but have not yet applied for it. Apart from this, the state has 19 colleges whose assessed certifications have expired. One of the main eligibility criteria for NAAC assessment is that a college has to complete two successive degree courses (six years). The Directorate has found 12 such colleges that are ineligible for NAAC accreditation in the state so far.
According to sources in the Directorate, NAAC accreditation is a must to ensure quality education. The State Government is contemplating on issuing show-cause notices to NAAC-eligible colleges that have not yet applied for assessment. Quality education is a must, and the government has launched NEP-2020 from this academic session recently with four-year degree courses.
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