Education minister PK Shahi (second from left) inaugurates the workshop with other delegates at JD Women’s College in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Education minister P.K. Shahi on Tuesday conceded the state government had failed to improve the standard of higher education because of difficulties in appointing teachers.

Speaking at the inaugural function of a three-day workshop on National Assessment and Accreditation Council (Naac) at JD Women’s College, he said: “Steps taken by the government to appoint teachers have proven futile. The recent plan regarding appointment of teachers through the public service commission is also pending as the Raj Bhavan is yet to clear the bill.”

This is not the first time that Shahi has voiced his concern regarding quality education. A week ago, during a function of Bihar Language Initiative in Secondary Schools (BLISS) project, he regretted the lack of quality education hindering progress of 20 million school children in Bihar.

Addressing the seminar in the presence of World Bank officials, Shahi said universities should be given the power to appoint teachers, but condemned the appointment of “tainted” vice-chancellors and registrars. He said fair play was not expected of them.

Shahi said a large number of students from Bihar was moving to other states to pursue higher studies because of the gradual decline in the higher education standard.

Regarding Naac accreditation of colleges, the minister claimed that accredited institutions would improve the education standard at colleges and universities.

Naac accreditation is a must for colleges to get funds from the University Grants Commission. The World Bank representatives would discuss the parameters on which colleges can get Naac accreditation.

Sources said the accreditation of colleges generally hinged on 11 criteria, including infrastructure facilities, faculty positions, academic and extra-curricular activities, students’ grievance cell, hostel facility, medical aid for students, library facilities, smart class facility as well as strengths and weaknesses of the institutes.

Education department special secretary and managing director of Bihar State Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation Sanjeevan Sinha also stressed on the importance of Naac accreditation at the workshop. “Colleges that have not yet submitted the letter of intent for the Naac team visit should submit their letters by July 19,” he said.

Colleges having Naac accreditation are recognised nationally. It also opens the doors for national and international agencies to get involved with colleges. According to Naac sources, there are around 250 constituent colleges in Bihar, but only a dozen of them have accreditation.