The Assembly on Friday cleared five Bills related to higher education in the State. The Bills besides, defining ways for recruitment of teachers in the State varsities would also pave way for three private institutions of higher and technical education.
Separate legislations brought for three new universities would govern the establishment and functioning of Amity University, Pragyan International University and AISECT University.
Students of economically backward sections would have to be provided scholarships. Also, 25 per cent of total seats would have to be reserved for the students of Jharkhand besides, other reservation policy of the State to be followed. At least 50 per cent of non-teaching staffs should belong to Jharkhand.
The Universities would need to appoint sufficient number of teaching staffs holding set qualification standards. NAAC would certify the institutions within five years of their establishment. Governor of the State would be Visitor of the Universities. The State Government based on complaint of mismanagement and probe outcome of a competent authority can dissolve the university.
Management of the universities would have to procure at least 10 acres of land for single campus and 25 acres of land for multi-campus within two years of their establishment. Administrative building spreading in at least 1000 sq meters besides, defined area for library, lecture hall and laboratories, hostel for at least 25 per cent of the enrolled students and sufficient residential quarters for teachers are some of the prerequisites. These facilities have to be in place within three years of the university coming into existence.
Along with this, the Government also got passed Jharkhand State Higher Education Council Bill, 2016 to fulfill aims of RUSA (Rastriya Ucchatar Siksha Abhiyan). The council after coming into existence would tender advices to all universities, including the private ones and other institutions of higher education. It would also set up coordination among all the higher education related authorities. The council would also ensure quality education in the universities without interfering with their autonomy.
Another Bill passed empowers the JPSC to make appointment and promotion of teaching staffs in universities based on vacancies in colleges through a merit list. The Commission would conduct Jharkhand Eligibility Test (JET) every year.