To boost the higher education infrastructure in the state, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is set to introduce 29 new government degree colleges, as confirmed by the state officials on Tuesday (12th May). The degree colleges will be introduced from the upcoming academic session, starting on 1st July.
According to Hindustan Times, the decision is aimed at improving the academic network in the state. The Directorate of Higher Education has reportedly sent a proposal to the state government for the creation of required teaching and non-teaching posts for 20 of these institutions. Director of Higher Education BL Sharma confirmed that the proposals were sent to the government. He added that Uttar Pradesh currently has 216 operational government degree colleges. Notably, 20 out of these 29 degree colleges are being set up under the Prime Minister Jan Vikas Programme (PMJVK).
“Currently, the gross enrolment ratio in higher education in Uttar Pradesh is around 27%. The target is to raise it to 50% by 2035. The new colleges will help achieve this goal,” said SK Pandey, Assistant Director, Higher Education.
As per the report, the state government initially planned to run these colleges as government institutions, affiliated colleges under state universities, or through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. However, it is now clear from the proposals for the teaching and non-teaching appointments that 20 of the colleges will operate as regular government degree colleges under the higher education department. The 20 colleges include two institutions in Pratapgarh district, Government Degree College, Gabi Mahuawan, and Government Degree College, Sandwa Chandika.
Additionally, the state government is also planning to operationalise nine other government degree colleges across different districts. Additionally, the state government is also planning to the state government is also preparing to operationalise nine more government degree colleges across different districts.
Last year, out of 69 newly constructed government degree colleges, only 46 became functional. 7 of the unoperational colleges, which were proposed to be run as affiliated colleges, could not start functioning after state universities declined to take responsibility for them. Two colleges, each at Rath in Hamirpur district and another at Jamalpur in Mirzapur district, could also not start academic activities last year because of incomplete construction. The colleges are likely to become operational from the upcoming session.
