The State Government wants to streamline the academic standards of all types of colleges in view of the criticism it recently faced from the Opposition in the Assembly on the fast deteriorating standard of the Government colleges.
Besides, the issues of the private aided colleges crippled with frequent teachers’ agitation over job regularisation and Grant In Aid (GIA) remain unresolved, triggering resentment among the teachers and affecting academic environment in the colleges.
Recently, a Principals’ meeting was organised by the Higher Education Department where the authorities were asked to follow the Common Minimum Standard (CMS) guidelines.
According to the CMS guidelines, while the academic calendar was fixed, various other instructions were given pertaining to teaching, administration, accounts, college union election, examinations, extra-curricular activities, among others.
According to sources, the teachers have been told to remain present at the workplace 7 hours on each working day. Common staff attendance/Biometric attendance for all teaching/non-teaching staff should be maintained and placed near the Principal's chamber to put their signature/biometric attendance to ensure the presence of such staff in the college, even there is no class/ specific administrative work.
The scan copy of the attendance/biometric attendance report must be sent to the concern RDE through e- mail at the end of every week.
Besides, all teachers shall be assigned classes on every working day of a week. Similarly each student must have theory classes on every working day of a week.
Names of teachers should be reflected in the time table against respective classes allotted and the time table must be uploaded in e-space for information of the department.
The classes must be held only in the respective rooms as per time scheduled in the time table.
Similarly, the teachers have to prepare lesson plan as per the syllabus.
The students have to attend at least 75 per cent of available classes failing which they shall not be allowed to appear in end-term examination.
Every college should have adequate library facilities with sufficient text books, reference books and journals. The separate laboratories for +3 and PG classes of practical subjects should be well equipped with required furniture, water and LPG supply, equipment and chemicals as per CBCS syllabus along with fire safety arrangement.
Language laboratories set up in different colleges must be fully utilized. Adequate infrastructure for general classes, students and staff common room, office, lavatory, drinking water facility etc., be made available properly.
The college campus should have wall boundary. Every college should have its office , library and laboratories equipped with at least one computer, printer each with internet facility.
Every college should have its own website updated with information regarding infrastructure,
The authorities were also instructed to maintain Cash Book and DCR properly. Besides, collection of different fees from students should be preferably through e-transaction/demand draft/ bank challan .
All accounts of the college should be audited by appropriate auditing agency for every financial year.
No unauthorized fees/fines shall be collected from the students, without approval of the Government or the concern governing body. Non Government colleges shall not enhance fees without sufficient reasons. No fees shall be enhanced, once the process of admission for an academic session is announced.
All aided non Government colleges including 488 and 662 categories are brought under CAPA (College Accounting Procedure Automation ) of financial matters and Principals should implement the same strictly.
Instructions were given to open anti-ragging cell, sexual harassment redressal cell, career counseling cell, discipline committee, equal opportunity cell, placement cell, Internal Quality Assurance cell etc.
Special attention should be given for discipline and security of hostel and college campus of women's college. CC camera must be installed in college/ hostel gates to monitor the activities of unwanted persons. Activities affecting security and privacy of students in hostel and college campus of women's
No teacher can engage him/herself in private tuition/coaching or insist/ compel the students for the same. No non- teaching staff also can run private coaching/tuition institution or insist/compel the students for the same.
Every aided degree college should try to be covered under 2(f) and 12(b) of UGC Act to become eligible for grant from UGC. It has been made mandatory by the UGC for every degree college to obtain NAAC accreditation.