To streamline the higher education system in Punjab, all Government colleges will adopt online admissions criteria from the next academic session.
As per the decision taken during the meeting between the Principals of Government Colleges, senior officials and the state Higher Education Minister Razia Sultana, each college would be required to submit a monthly progress report of its academic and other activities.
Giving details about the decisions and other initiatives taken during the meeting, spokesperson said that it was decided to have appraisal of the academic activities and action plan for the next year, online admissions, ensuring maximum attendance of students, faculty development, status of NAAC accreditation, introduction of academic audit, subject combination in under graduate courses, best practices in colleges, motivational lecture series by eminent personalities, status of libraries.
Spokesperson said that it was decided that all teachers of the colleges will have to undergo one week orientation or refresher course every year to enhance their knowledge and teaching methodologies.
No Principal will have any power to relax attendance of any student, and the necessary directions in this regard would be issued soon by the Government. “Attendance of the students will be marked online from next academic session,” added the spokesperson.
Besides, the Department will also be introducing academic audit of the colleges from the next academic year and a committee will be formed to carry out the task. It was also decided to equip the libraries with good newspapers, magazines and journals of international repute.
The Minister has asked all the Principals to work hard and develop mutual trust among teachers and students, as there is need to strengthen the connection between students, faculty and administration.
She asked the Principals to hold at least one motivational lecture for the students every month by eminent personalities of the area. She also announced three separate functions at the University level to honour the best students in academics as well as in other activities to encourage the students.
“It is the need of the hour that concerted efforts are made to improve the standards of Higher Education,” she said while asking the Principals to ensure maximum attendance of the students.