Education department director Sitaram Singh addresses the meeting of college principals in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

The education department is seeking the help of college principals to spread awareness among institutions on the benefits of acquiring National Assessment and Accreditation Council (Naac) grade, which helps them get funds from University Grants Commission (UGC).

Sitaram Singh, director (higher education), education department, advised college principals to form committees to go to institutes affiliated to their universities and conduct workshops to spread awareness about Naac ratings. The issue was discussed at a meeting of principals of colleges of Magadh University, Bodhgaya, and Veer Kuer Singh University, Ara, in Patna on Tuesday.

Singh, who chaired the meeting. said: “Principals of some colleges can form groups or committees, visit different colleges of their university and organise workshops and seminars discussing the need to get Naac accreditation.

“In the initial stage, principals of a few colleges can start the process. Later, more persons can join the committee.”

The senior officer added: “Getting Naac accreditation is important as it helps colleges acquire funding from the UGC.”

The central body has framed some guidelines for colleges to get Naac accreditation, like academic atmosphere at the institution, teaching and learning practices and infrastructure.

The colleges attending the meeting also discussed their problems.

Asha Singh, the principal of Arvind Mahila College — a constituent institution of Magadh University — said: “The colleges are committed to getting Naac accreditation. But the infrastructure at the institutions and problems regarding the appointment of teachers should be sorted out first.”

She added: “In our college, there is no permanent science teacher. We have to depend teachers on deputation from other colleges to run the courses.”

Arvind Mahila College has five BSc couses.

Singh also said: “We have requested the education department and the Magadh University administration several times to appoint teachers but no step has been taken. Something should be done to improve the academic atmosphere such as appointment of teachers and non-teaching staff. Nothing will work out only with assurances.”

Besides problems, college principals also requested the education department to give the institutions more autonomy. They claimed it would allow a speedy resolution of many minor problems.

Madan Murari, the principal of ANS College, Barh — another constituent college of Magadh University — said: “For every little thing that we need, we have to approach the university and seek their permission. If we are given a free hand, we would be able to address smaller problems on our own. This would also save a lot of time.”

The education department director asked the college principals to submit their infrastructure budgets by end-December every year so that the government could release funds in time.