GUWAHATI: At least 70% Guwahatians feel that students do not have access to a broad range of courses at the college level in the city, hence depriving them of future opportunities. This was revealed in a survey conducted by G Plus called ‘Let’s Talk Guwahati’. Around 10000 people participated in this month-long survey from different localities of the city.
According to the survey, merely 29.1% or around 3500 people feel that students have enough options of courses from different fields to choose from after passing school if they choose to pursue their higher education in the city. On the contrary, in response to the question— “Are there enough educational courses in Guwahati at the college level?” 70.7% respondents or around 8500 participants answered in the negative.
On the other hand, some participants of the survey also felt that the college authorities should introduce practical courses in both public as well as private institutions so that the students can gain some hands-on experience in their respective fields and are better equipped for the future.
“While my university does offer a variety of courses on different subjects, it still does not justify the high fee charged by the university,” a city resident and a student of a private university in Guwahati told G Plus on the condition of anonymity.
Further, respondents also raised a concern over the non-availability of technical courses at the post graduate level in the city due to which many students are forced to leave the state to pursue such courses.
Anshul Tiwari, a 20-year-old student and resident of Chandmari said that government colleges in Guwahati lack proper infrastructural facility.
“Several government-run colleges in the city lack good infrastructure. However, the quality of education offered in government colleges is good and therefore a large number of students take admissions in these colleges instead of opting for private colleges. But the government should address the issue of staff shortage,” said Tiwari.
He added that in order to compete with other states, colleges in Assam and Guwahati must introduce a host of new subjects and courses to suit every student’s need.
Majority of students prefer studying outside Ghy after school
As per the results of the ‘Let’s Talk Guwahati’ survey, a little more than half of the students have left the city to pursue higher education. This indicates a dissatisfaction with the quality of higher education and the limited variety of courses offered in the city.
A total of 53.6% respondents said that someone from their family is currently pursuing higher education from outside Guwahati. Further, out of the students studying outside Guwahati, a majority of them (18.1%) left the city after passing class 10. This was followed by students leaving after completing class 12 (10.8%).
Additionally, 4.9% graduates have moved outside Guwahati in search of better educational opportunities.
On the contrary, 46.4% respondents said that no one from their family is currently studying outside Guwahati.
Further, authorities at a few government colleges told G Plus that they were planning infrastructural development during this year.
Principal of Arya Vidyapeeth College, P K Bhattacharya informed, “We are being sanctioned Rs 2.5 crore for the construction of new girls’ hostel and there is another Rs 1 crore infrastructural development plan which has been planned from our own budget.”
Additionally, Dr. Dharmendra Nath, principal of S B Deorah College said that they were in the midst of an expansion process. “We are planning to start a B.Sc course. Some professional and skill-oriented courses will also be started shortly. Post Graduate courses for a few departments have also been planned.”
72% of people choose private schools over govt schools
When asked which school they would prefer sending their children to, between government and private schools, a whopping 72% Guwahatians voted against government schools saying they would prefer private school education for their wards.
In order to improve the the overall quality of education in primary schools, the state government had undertaken a major initiative called ‘Gunotsav’. Students between classes 2 to 8 of all primary schools of the district were assessed under the initiative.
However, around 75 per cent primary schools in the Kamrup (Metro) district scored low grades in the first phase of Gunotsav. According to data provided by the Assam Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Mission (ASSAM), a total of 708 elementary schools in the district were evaluated under the scheme, out of which 534 schools scored C and D grades.
In Kamrup (Metro), only 18 schools were graded as A+, while 14 scored the A grade and 142 schools were given B grade.
As many as 54,837 students were evaluated in the district on their academic as well as extra-curricular performance.
District education officials said that this form of evaluation proved beneficial for them as they were now aware of the shortcomings and are already working towards improving them.
