| KOLHAPUR: As many as 206 colleges across Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts will be assessed and inspected from May 19 across the division.
The decision to assess colleges came after chief secretary J S Sahariya's instruction to submit an academic report by the end of May.
Last month, state chief secretary J S Sahariya had instructed state universities to submit an academic report containing details of the syllabus, record of inefficient colleges and number of vacancies in them to the government. The information will be used for policy and decision making in the higher education sector.
Regional joint director of higher education, Kolhapur division, V K Nilekar told TOI, "The assessment would be based on basic facilities in the colleges, which would include infrastructural availability, academic performance and administrative functions. We have observed that many colleges, despite having good infrastructure, fail in the academic criteria. So this assessment would provide an overview of the situation in the division."
According to Nilekar, to provide basic information about the assessment and inspection drive, the joint director of higher education's office has organized a principals' meeting. "On Monday, we organized a meeting of principals from Satara district, while another meet will be held on Tuesday for principals from Kolhapur and Sangli. The authorities would be briefed about the inspection and assessment drive during the meet," she added.
Elaborating on the assessment drive, Nilekar said, "A government representative has been appointed for the inspection drive in all the colleges. We have to submit the report by the month-end; so the office is committed to finish it by May 26."
Vice chancellors of state universities had a meeting with chief secretary J S Sahariya last month at the Mantralaya to discuss various educational policies and academic status of universities in higher education.
The chief secretary had asked all the universities to submit details regarding the number of vacant posts in the respective colleges affiliated to them, a report on outdated syllabi and a record of inefficient colleges with a poor academic record.
The state higher education department, according to Shivaji University, Kolhapur officials, has been conducting meetings with universities across Maharashtra on various issues for the formation of education policies and to take a review of the current academic status. |