For the first time in Bokaro district, postgraduate classes in 14 subjects, seven each in humanities and science, will start at Bokaro Steel City College from the coming academic session beginning this July.

Approval for PG classes at this college in Bokaro Sector V came on Tuesday evening from Jharkhand director of higher and technical education Baalendu B. Anand Murthy via Vinoba Bhave University headquarters Hazaribagh.

Till date, Bokaro students who wanted to pursue their MA or MSc had to go to Hazaribagh, Ranchi or Dhanbad. Not all could afford outstation expenses while many families did not allow girls to go.

In his letter, the director asked the college to give details about the subjects, strength of teachers, running and recurring cost of starting the PG course and infrastructure.

College principal S.K. Sharma told The Telegraph on Wednesday that they had selected seven subjects each in humanities and science for the upcoming PG classes.

In humanities, the subjects were history, political science, English, Hindi, economics, psychology and philosophy.

In science, the subjects were physics, chemistry, mathematics, geology, zoology, botany and biotechnology.

With 35 permanent teachers and eight on contract, college principal S.K. Sharma said he would hiring two teachers each on contractual basis as well for the 14 subjects. The college already has 12 classrooms where classes can start immediately while 12 more would be build on campus which has ample space, he said. The college already had good laboratory facilities, he added.

Asked about the expenses, the principal said each teacher would get Rs 15,000 as salary per month. In addition, one clerk and peon would be kept for each department who would be paid Rs 9,000 and Rs 5,000, respectively, per month. A contingency fund of Rs 5,000 will be kept for every subject.

"The total running cost will come to around Rs 7.86 lakh per month," the principal said. "This apart, the extra 12 classrooms that have to be constructed will cost another Rs 1 crore."

Contacted, VBU vice chancellor Dr Gurdip Singh said he was happy that a college in Bokaro city was ready to start PG course from the upcoming academic session.

"I had promised to the people of Bokaro that PG courses will start in this steel city soon, which is now coming true," the vice chancellor said.

What should be done to boost Bokaro's higher education? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com