Bihar CM says 75% student attendance mandatory as state opens new degree colleges

The chief minister of Bihar, Samrat Choudhary has asked the newly appointed assistant professors to oversee that students must maintain at least 75 percent student attendance in colleges. He said that since the government is expanding higher education infrastructure if would have limited impact if students do not attend classes on a regular basis, the Economic Times reported.

Choudhary was recently addrsssing a gathering of newly appointed assistant professors, where he said the Bihar government had opened 211 new degree colleges and also appointed 2,451 assistant professors for the same. He described the expansion as a part of development of rural areas, 

The Bihar chief minister said teachers can play an important role in making the new colleges successful and mae sure that students benefit from the facilities that are being created by the government.

“Until children come and study in your colleges, the importance of that college will not be realised,” Choudhary said, urging teachers to ensure 75 percent attendance so that regular classroom teaching could take place, the CM said.

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Bihar to strengthen higher education

According to The Economic Times, Choudhary said many students from Bihar still travel to other cities such as Kota, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru for higher education and also for preparation of competitive examination. 

He said the state needed to support its institutions so that students can access quality education which is closer to home. He also proposed that 100 teachers should be identifies for one-month courses outside India so that they get exposed to international education standards. 

The initiative, he said, could help teachers gain wider academic exposure and contribute to improving the quality of education in Bihar. Choudhary further said, “One era saw us compromise quality with quantity. Now we have to take quality and quantity together.”

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Teachers will drive quality in new colleges

The Chief Minister said the government will continue to develop infrastructure in colleges, but the future of these institutions is dependant largely on teachers and their efforts to make the academic standards better.

Choudhary said Bihar ususally spends more than 21 percent of its budget on education, covering primary, middle and high schools as well as colleges. He added, that the government was working to reduce the need for students to move outside the state for education.

The CM also said Bihar should compete with private universities by becoming a strong partner in shaping the futures of students. He urged teachers to work towards changing the state’s education system for students studying in the 211 new degree colleges.