VIJAYAWADA: The state government on Monday proposed one government degree college for every assembly constituency. Chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy announced the proposal during his review meeting with officials of the education department at his Tadepalli camp office.
The chief minister wanted officials to ensure that one degree college is established in every assembly constituency. He also suggested they take over aided colleges wherever it is possible. However, he told officials to not make it compulsory for aided institutions to surrender to the government. “It is not compulsory that aided institutions be transferred to the government as we have changed the aided policy. It is a voluntary decision and is left to the managements of the institutions,” the chief minister said.
The chief minister directed the Higher Education Council to have regular interactions with vice-chancellors of the universities. He told them to meet one vice-chancellor every week and review the academic and infrastructure facilities. He also instructed them to focus on securing better NAAC ratings for every university and said universities should be integrated with skill development colleges and the industry.
On fee reimbursement, the chief minister told officials to ensure that payments are made once every three months. He wanted officials to ensure that money under the fee reimbursement scheme is paid into the bank accounts of the mothers, who in turn would make payments to the colleges.
The chief minister asked officials to fill all vacancies in the universities and improve teaching quality. He wanted officials to ensure transparency and quality in recruitments in order to ensure quality teaching. The chief minister further instructed officials to ensure quality teaching in all institutions from the pre-primary to the university level. He also wanted them to provide the link between educational institutions and the industry to guarantee employment for every student.
Officials informed the chief minister that 1,10,779 students have opted for laptops under Jagananna Vasati Deevena scheme. The officials said they would procure the laptops and distribute them to the students at the earliest.
Minister for education, Adimulapu Suresh, special chief secretary, Satish Chandra, higher education council chairman K Hemachandra Reddy, college education commissioner Pola Bhaskar, vice-chancellors of various universities and other officials were present at the review.
