New degree colleges are set to open in 211 blocks across Bihar starting July 1st. The Department of Higher Education has already appointed principals for these institutions. Read on to find out which six subjects will be offered in the first phase and how students stand to benefit.

The state government has taken a historic step to promote higher education in Bihar and to extend the light of knowledge to even the most remote areas. The government has completed all preparations to commence classes for the new academic session in 211 new degree colleges across the state. The new academic session will officially begin in all these new colleges on July 1st; to facilitate this, principals have already been appointed to all 211 institutions.

Why Were These New Colleges Needed?

It is worth noting that Bihar comprises a total of 534 blocks. While many of these blocks already had existing colleges, there were 211 blocks in the state that lacked any government-run or government-recognized degree colleges. Due to the absence of colleges in these areas, students were compelled to travel to other cities for their higher studies (such as B.A., B.Sc., etc.) after completing their 12th grade, or, out of necessity, were forced to abandon their education altogether. Girls faced the greatest difficulties in this regard; owing to the lack of local colleges in remote areas, parents were often reluctant to send their daughters away due to concerns regarding safety and distance. Furthermore, many underprivileged families could not afford the financial burden of housing and educating their children in urban centers. The government undertook this initiative specifically to resolve these multifaceted challenges.

A Promise Fulfilled Under the ‘Saat Nishchay-3’ Scheme

To permanently resolve this major predicament faced by students, the Bihar government took a decisive step under its ambitious ‘Saat Nishchay-3’ (Seven Key Pledges for Development) program. The fourth pillar of this program was aptly titled ‘Unnat Shiksha, Ujjwal Bhavishya’ (Advanced Education, Bright Future). The underlying premise is clear: a bright future for the youth can only be realized if they are provided with superior and advanced educational opportunities. Under this initiative, the State Government had decided that a new degree college would be established in every block of Bihar that currently lacks one.

Classes to Begin on July 1; Principals Take Charge

Following strict directives from the State Government, the Department of Higher Education has commenced preparations to operationalize these colleges. As a first step, the Department of Higher Education has appointed principals to these 211 new degree colleges. These principals have now set about making preparations for the new academic session, which is scheduled to begin in their respective colleges on July 1.

Which 6 Subjects Will Be Taught in the First Phase?

According to the Department of Higher Education’s plan, the first phase will primarily focus on teaching six subjects across all these new degree colleges. These include subjects from the Arts stream that are in highest demand among students. According to reports, students will initially be able to enroll in a total of six subjects, including Hindi, English, Sociology, Political Science, and History. In the future, Science and other subjects may also be introduced in these colleges.

Officials Provide Details

Prof. N.K. Agarwal, Director of the Department of Higher Education, stated that a target has been set to commence classes in the new degree colleges across 211 blocks of the state. The process of deploying principals to all the colleges has been completed, and the department is rapidly undertaking all necessary preparations to launch the teaching of six subjects in the first phase.