Patna, Aug. 26: The state human resource development (HRD) department today started a two-day training programme of university officials (teaching and non-teaching employees) with focus on improving quality of higher education in state.

The training of university officials assumes significance as the resource persons engaged in the programme will carry out surveys on the status of higher education in state.

The training programme was formally inaugurated by HRD principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh. The function was attended by secretary S. Shiv Kumar, HRD director (higher education) Sitaram Singh and Union HRD ministry official Sanjay Singh.

After the two-day training programme, the officials and resource persons will start the surveys in state institutes.

The survey will be conducted at three levels — university level, college level and in colleges not affiliated to any state university.

The resource persons engaged in the survey will mainly study the teacher: student ratio, teaching facilities and infrastructure available in the colleges and universities.

Such a survey is also being carried out at the national level by the Union HRD ministry and other states in country are also planning to start it.

Speaking at the function, Anjani Kumar Singh said: “The results of the survey will be used for formulation of plans related to improvement of higher education.”

Singh said in the past six years, the state government has showed a lot of interest in higher education and started many institutions of repute in Bihar.

These include Chandragupt Institute of Management, Patna, Chanakya National Law University and Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU).

Moreover, an NGO —Pratham — has also organised similar type of surveys in primary education, the report of which was released by the chief minister in beginning of this year.

Shiv Kumar, while addressing the officials, said: “Similar type of survey at university-level is being carried out in Lalit Narayan Mithila University and the report will be beneficial for higher education.”

The HRD (higher edu-cation) director, Sitaram Singh, pointed out that the survey will be helpful in planning improved high- er education.

There are many colleges and departments which are running with just half of the sanctioned strength of teachers.

Moreover, the sessions of many universities are pending owing to late examinations and also late declaration of results.

Poor infrastructure is another problem which some universities are facing as college buildings are in a bad shape and students and teachers don’t get potable water supply and hygienic toilet conditions.

Mission: higher education

State HRD department begins two-day training programme for university officials who would supervise surveys in state institutes.

The surveys would be carried out at three levels — university, college and in colleges not affiliated to state varsities.

The survey will focus on teacher-student ratio, teaching facilities and infrastructure or the lack of it.

Findings of the survey will help in improving the quality of higher education.