The state education department has asked universities to maintain the academic calendar carefully and launch job-oriented courses.

None of the universities in the state maintain the academic calendar except Patna University, according to sources. There are 10 universities in the state, with Patna University being the oldest and smallest and Magadh University being the largest.

Sources said the Governor had directed state universities to follow the academic calendar on several occasions.

Education department secretary Dharmendra Singh Gangwar said: "The prime focus of higher education will be the maintenance of the university academic calendar and introducing job-oriented courses at the education hubs."?

Sources said students suffered because of non-regularisation of the calendar. Many failed to get admission to universities outside Bihar.

S.B. Lal, a teacher at Vanijya Mahavidyalaya, said: "Generally, universities follow the academic session from July to April, with classes commencing from July and results being declared by April or May. In some universities, results are declared in October or even in November."

According to Lal, this is why many students who want to pursue higher studies at universities fail to get admission as the session outside Bihar universities commences from July first week or by mid July.

Echoing the views of Lal, Mukesh Kumar, a student of College of Commerce (under Magadh University), said: "In Patna University, the undergraduate examinations start in February or March, but in our college the undergraduate examination in June or July. Results published in October or November."?

Sources said the delay in the academic calendar is because of local as well as administrative reasons.

A senior teacher at AN College said: "It is easy for Patna University to maintain its academic calendar with only 10 colleges, but Magadh University has 45 constituent colleges and more than 50 affiliated colleges. Holding examinations and declaring results on time is a big challenge for the administration."

The education department has also asked universities to introduce job-oriented courses in their institutes. Many universities are already running self-financed vocational courses but they suffer from lack of infrastructure and manpower.

A senior teacher at Patna University said: "For self-financed vocational courses, the government didn't provide any financial assistance and most of them are run with the money collected as tuition fees from students."?