Patna: Governor Lal Ji Tandon is following the steps of his predecessor, Satya Pal Malik, in bringing reforms in higher education. In the past two days, the governor's secretariat has convened two meetings, where instructions were issued to officials to effect changes in higher education.

An official of the governor's secretariat on condition of anonymity said: "The new governor, Lal Ji Tandon, after assuming charge, went through the work that Malik had begun. The new governor appreciated the steps that Malik had taken and issued the instructions to carry forward the work his predecessor had started."

The official added: "One of the major steps that Malik had initiated was holding the combined entrance test for BEd colleges. The new governor has appreciated it but at the same time, has issued instructions to sort out the anomalies in the entrance test."

Hence, the Raj Bhavan has formed a three-member committee to recommend measures to ease out some procedural and practical problems arising out during out of the combined BEd entrance test.

Despite clearing the entrance test, many students have not taken admission in the BEd colleges, as they have been allotted colleges far from their home districts. The governor's secretariat issued instructions so that all such discrepancies are sorted out. Around 82,132 candidates appeared in the BEd entrance examination held on July 15, for around 33,700 BEd seats in 314 private and government BEd colleges but around 15,000 BEd seats are still vacant.

The chancellor has also directed universities to develop university management information system (UMIS), which will have complete information about students and teachers' activities. The UMIS concept was initiated during the period of Ram Nath Kovind but it has been pending since then. The project has been taken up.

Munger University vice-chancellor Ranjit Kumar Verma said: "The UMIS introduced in university will bring drastic changes in the functioning of the university. From students' admission to his exit from college, all his activities will be automated. If a student remains absent from class, his parents will receive an SMS. Similarly, all records of teachers and non-teaching staff will be automated and it will be online. It will help the university address pension and salary issues of university staff."

The governor has also decided to introduce awards for best performing university, college, teacher and student. The award for best university, college, teacher and student will bring competition among university, college, teacher and students. The chancellor's office has directed the university administration to select the best college, the best department, the best teacher and the best student at the university level and award them for their achievements.