The education department and universities are on a confrontation course over the constitution of a higher education examination board.

The department is serious about introducing a higher education examination board under which there will be one examination, one syllabus for all universities.

But teachers' associations are unhappy. They see in it an attempt by the state government to meddle in varsity affairs.

"The education department's attempt is to destroy the autonomy of state universities, as universities' role of conducting examination and publishing results will come to end," said Anil Kumar, general secretary, Patna University Teachers' Association (Puta).

The proposed higher education examination board will conduct exams and publish results just the way the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) holds matriculation and Intermediate examinations.

In such a situation the grading and standard of all state universities will be on a par with each other.

Anil, who is a senior geology teacher at Patna Science College, said: "If the standard of all universities will be on a par with each other, there will no difference in the degree held by a student from Patna University and that from B.N. Mandal University in Madhepura."

Since no other state has such a higher education examination board, doubts persist whether universities outside Bihar will accept degrees provided by the higher education examination board.

"The All India Federation of University & College Teachers Organisation (Aifucto) will oppose any such move by state government, as it is an attempt to destroy higher education," said Aifucto general secretary Arun Kumar. "We are seeing the consequences of the topper scam. What if university education goes the same way?"

There was opposition to the idea from some students. Pramod Kumar of Patna Science College said many students took admission into Patna University to pursue quality education, "but if the standard of Patna University and other universities becomes the same, there will be no use studying at Patna Science College".

The department is planning to introduce the new board to regularise academic sessions at universities and ensure timely exams, fair evaluation and timely results.

The idea is said to be the brainchild of BRA Bihar University vice-chancellor Dr Pandit Palande.

On Sunday, the education department had organised a workshop attended by vice-chancellors of all state universities.

"Students and learners should be at the centre of all our concerns," state education minister Ashok Choudhary said at the function. "My primary concern is how best we can serve the students of the state. The question of universities' autonomy and rights of teachers are secondary."

He said the pathetic condition of state universities has led to the need for an examination board. Sources said most vice-chancellors at the workshop opposed the idea of the new board.