Guwahati, July 8: Dispur has decided to approach the University Grants Commission to seek more time to bifurcate Plus II classes from degree colleges despite the fact that a majority of college teachers are getting impatient to be freed of the burden of teaching higher secondary classes.
Highly placed sources told The Telegraphthat education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma would himself approach the UGC with a plea to give Assam some more time to create suitable arrangements to accommodate Plus II or higher secondary students.
In 2005, the UGC had asked degree colleges to bifurcate the Plus II level so that the latter could exclusively concentrate on higher education. Assam is already far behind schedule in implementing the directive, being the only remaining state in the country with colleges running Plus II classes.
Sources said the government had made it clear that if necessary, it would approach the court to seek more time, so that students do not face any harassment or uncertainty for the sake of bifurcation.
The education department last year envisaged a phase-wise delinking process that would be completed by 2016, starting with three government colleges next year.
"In case of bifurcation, after passing Matric, students will have to get admission in higher secondary schools or private junior colleges. But the number of HS schools is inadequate. The existing schools have poor infrastructure and shortage of teaching staff. Private junior colleges, on the other hand, are charging high fees, which poor and middle class students cannot afford," the source said.
An Assam government official said considering the current ground situation, the education department was afraid of going for immediate bifurcation and was trying to play safe by approaching the UGC, seeking more time.
He said the government had to approach and intimate the UGC because the latter had warned that it would stop funding those degree colleges that did not comply with the directive.
"The education minister has already asked the top officials of his department to give a detailed status report, including manpower position of HS schools, junior colleges and degree colleges. Once the report is prepared, the education department would make a memorandum to submit to the UGC. The memorandum would highlight the problems faced by the state in implementing the bifurcation plan immediately," the official said.
Dispur's decision may not go down well with many degree college teachers, who have been strongly opposing continuation of Plus II courses.
While Pandu College and Dimoria College have already stopped admitting students to Classes XI and XII, leading institutions like Cotton College, B. Borooah College, Guwahati Commerce College and Handique Girls' College are under constant pressure from teachers to do away with higher secondary classes.
"With introduction of semester system in degree colleges from the current academic session, many teachers are considering Plus II classes an additional burden," the source added.
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