The Siliguri College, which has received a B++ grade from NAAC. Picture by Diptendu Dutta

Siliguri, Feb. 8: Missing the expectation of notching up an A or A+ grade, Siliguri College, one of the oldest in the region, has been declared a B++ college.

The grading has been done by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body formed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India, to appraise institutions of higher education in the country. NAAC was formed following the National Policy in Education (1986).

Kalipada Ghosh Terai Mahavidyalaya, Bagdogra, and Cooch Behar BT and Evening College have both been awarded a B-category rating.

The decision regarding these colleges was taken at the NAAC?s executive committee meeting held in Bangalore on February 3. It follows a three-stage process, which is a combination of self-study and peer review. A peer team comprising senior academicians K.C. Mathur, Manju Sinha and K.P. Singh had visited these colleges last December for the validation of the self-study reports prepared by these institutions.

Students grade the colleges on the basis of certain parameters, including their performances, infrastructure of the institution, organisation and management and student support and progression.

At the final decision by the executive committee of NAAC, as many as 11 colleges from the state were accredited. Besides Siliguri College, which was identified as a prospective lead college by the West Bengal State Higher Education Council, Ghatal Rabindra Satabdibarshiki Mahavidyalaya (West Midnapore) and Sri Chaitanya College, Habra (North 24 Parganas) have also been graded B++.

The grades will be valid for a period of five years and on the basis of the ranks and requirements, funds will be released to the colleges for the improvement of their overall standard. After five years, the colleges will be re-accredited.

Malay Karanjai, the principal of Siliguri College, declined any comment on the new development.

Soon after the NAAC team had inspected the college, he had said that he expected an A or A+ rating. Though the college had tried to give its best shot with freshly painted walls, an over-night roof-top canteen and a weekly health centre, the team members were not much impressed by the way the self-finance courses were being run. The team was also flooded with complaints from students, especially of the journalism department.

Ranajit Kumar Das, the principal of Bagdogra College, however, said he was happy with the grade. ?Given that ours is a very new college (established only 18 years ago) we are happy with the classification,? he said. ?With this rating we will now be able to scout for more funds from the UGC in order to offer more facilities to our students.?