Patna Women's College - the state's first women's college, offering undergraduate courses in various subjects - will soon offer postgraduate courses, nearly 76 years after inception.
The college was established in 1940 by Patna bishop Reverend Bernard J. Sullivan with help from the sisters of the Apostolic Carmel of Mangalore. On Monday, state education minister Ashok Choudhary said: "The department has asked Patna University vice-chancellor Y.C. Simhadri to initiate the process to start post-graduate courses there from the next academic session (July-August)."
The move will give another option to girl students who, after graduating from their colleges, had to seek admission in the post-graduate department of Patna University (PU) or Magadh University.
Shikha, an undergraduate English department student at Patna Women's College, said: "After graduating from here, students had to take admission at Darbhanga House of Patna University or Magadh University colleges in the city that offer post-graduate courses." Prerana Sharma of the same college said: "Patna Women's College is one of the best colleges in the state. It's difficult to adjust elsewhere after graduating from here."
Once Patna University starts the process, Patna Women's College will have to first prepare a 30-point draft stating teachers' strength, infrastructure etc. The college will have to send the 30-point draft, mandated by Raj Bhavan for launching new courses, to Patna University. The varsity's academic council will vet the draft points before it is sent to the PU syndicate (varsity's chief executive body). Once the syndicate approves it, it will be sent to the state government for it to decide student intake into different PG courses the college will launch. The state government will then send it to Raj Bhavan for final approval.
Sources said the state government decision to launch post-graduate courses there is a step towards the plan to convert it into a women's university on the lines of SNDT Women's University in Mumbai. But PU teachers are opposing any such plan
