Jharkhand Governor voices concern over higher education condition in state

SUBHASH MISHRA

Dhanbad, May 20: Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Tuesday expressed deep dissatisfaction over the condition of higher education in the state. Calling for urgent reforms, he urged both the government and the academic community to work towards transforming Jharkhand’s universities into some of the best in the country.

Speaking at a function at Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) in Dhanbad, the Governor, who also serves as the Chancellor of state universities, said, “It is a matter of concern that Jharkhand is lagging behind in the field of higher education at the national level. As Chancellor, it is both my responsibility and commitment to ensure improvement in this sector.”

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Education Beyond Exams and Certificates

Governor Gangwar, who arrived in Dhanbad along with Chief Minister Hemant Soren to unveil a life-size statue of the late MP Binod Bihari Mahto on the university campus, stressed that universities must not restrict their role to conducting exams and issuing certificates.

“There must be a strict implementation of an academic calendar. University authorities must focus on ensuring quality education and building a conducive academic environment,” he said.

He added that students must be motivated to learn and teachers to teach, and that universities have a crucial role in creating such an atmosphere. “The role of a university extends beyond academics. It must contribute to social change and character building of the students,” he emphasized.

Call for Filling Vacant Positions

The Governor pointed out that all state universities are facing an acute shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff. He informed that steps are being taken to appoint vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors wherever the posts are vacant.

Appealing to the chief minister, Gangwar said, “The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) must be involved in recruiting staff to address this crisis and to help make our universities nationally competitive.”

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CM Vows to Uphold Legacy of Jharkhand’s Founding Leaders

Earlier, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, while addressing the gathering, said his government is committed to realizing the vision of Jharkhand movement leaders and strengthening institutions named after figures like Binod Bihari Mahto and Nirmal Mahto.

“On the very day Koylanchal University was established, I had decided to name it after Binod Bihari Mahto,” the chief minister recalled.

Event Participation

The event began with a welcome address by BBMKU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ram Kumar. The proceedings were conducted by Prof. Himanshu Shekhar Choudhary.

Among the dignitaries present were Higher Education Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Giridih MP C.P. Choudhary, Dhanbad Sadar MLA Raj Sinha, Tundi MLA Mathura Prasad Mahto, Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee, MLA Babloo Mahto, MLA Umakant Rajak, and Baghmara MLA Shatrughan Mahato.