After holding classes in two shifts at a few colleges last year, Vinoba Bhave University (VBU) is now planning to hold classes in two shifts in majority of its constituent and some of its affiliated colleges to accommodate more number of students seeking admission in undergraduate courses for the 2016-19 session.

With more admissions, the Hazaribagh-headquartered university aims to improve the gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education in Jharkhand., which was 9 per cent in 2014-15.<> The university had also increased the number of seats for the undergraduate courses for 2016-17 by 25% with an aim to improve the GER.

Talking to The Telegraph over phone from Hazaribagh on Thursday, vice chancellor of VBU, Gurdeep Singh said that compared to the admission figure of 28,000 candidates in 2015, this year 29,780 admissions have already taken place till August 31 in our 22 constituent colleges and by Saturday, the closing day, we expect the figures to go up by another four-five thousand."

College infrastructure, including manpower, of all such colleges which is witnessing the rush of students, are being increased to hold classes in morning and afternoon shifts.

For this, National Eligibility Test (NET) qualified candidates and retired teachers are being hired by the university. Existing teachers, who are willing to work in double shifts are also being paid at the rate of Rs 600 for undergraduate classes. This apart, the libraries and laboratories are also being upgraded to cope with the rush of students.

"Though classes were held in two shifts in some of the constituent colleges in 2015, this year we are also encouraging some of the affiliated colleges, which have received large applications for admission to hold classes in two shifts," said Singh.

"Though all colleges are following the basic criteria of admissions with students having at least 45% marks in plus two exams, we are trying to accommodate maximum number of applicants," added Singh.

He added that according to a national survey on higher education, released by the Union HRD ministry, the GER in India had improved to 23.6 per cent in 2014-15 from 20.4 in 2011-12, just like the GER in the state increased to 9 percent in 2014-15 from 8.4 per cent in 2011-12.

Principal of Guru Nanak College, Dhanbad, Purnendu Shekhar, said, "The VBU move to increase the number of seats in colleges in order to increase GER is welcome step and we have also increased the number of seats in our college. We are already running classes in two shifts, morning shift at our Bank More campus for girl students and afternoon shift for the boys at Bhuda campus."

Notably, VBU with its 22 constituent and 105 affiliated colleges, including medical, engineering and BEd colleges, is the first university of Bihar and Jharkhand which had implemented the choice-based credit system (CBCS) of education for undergraduate as well as post graduate courses last year and also conducted classes in some of the constituent colleges in two shifts.