The plan of the state education department to develop 49 colleges as centres of excellence could encounter roadblocks in the form of lack of teachers and want of infrastructure.

The principal secretary of the department, Amarjeet Sinha, said on Tuesday at the meeting of 49 college principals that the state government was committed to developing these institutions as centres of excellence. These colleges would have sound infrastructure, upgraded laboratories and libraries as well as sufficient teachers for all subjects.

On Wednesday, college authorities and teachers sounded sceptical about the tall claims of the officer.

They said most colleges suffered from severe lack of resources and infrastructure. (See graphics)

Asha Singh, principal, of Arvind Mahila College, told The Telegraph: “There is a paucity of teachers in the college. There are no permanent teachers in the science department, and we have to depend on ad hoc teachers to run the courses. Teachers on deputation from other colleges take classes.”

The constituent college of Magadh University runs BSc courses.

Singh said: “We have requested the state education department and Magadh University administration to appoint teachers but no step has been taken.”

Teachers apart, there is a severe crunch of non-teaching staff in the college.

Patna College teacher and former general secretary of Patna University Teachers’ Association Randhir Kumar Singh said: “The state government should first upgrade infrastructure facilities in colleges before planning to accord them centre of excellence.”

Explaining his scepticism, Singh added: “A few years ago, the education department, in a effort to improve school-level education, upgraded secondary schools to higher secondary level. But there was no appointment of new teachers at the Plus Two-level. As a result, secondary-level teachers were given the responsibility of teaching higher secondary students.”

He also said: “The libraries in Patna College are in a bad shape, as there has been no purchase of books for many years. Students are left with no option but to depend upon Patna University central library for what they need.”

Another institution in the city, BN College, is facing a different set of problems. Ranbir Nandan, a teacher at the institute, said: “Students of geography and geology used to be taken on tours earlier. But the excursions were suspended because of a funds crunch.”

Agreeing with his colleagues, he added: “The state government should provide financial assistance to universities before developing the colleges as centres of excellence. The focus should be on better infrastructure.”