Keeping in view the village girls who stay away from higher education because of far-off colleges, the higher education department is mulling to start evening colleges for them at their doorstep.
Higher education minister Surjit Singh Rakhra told HT that the colleges would be set up in all assembly constituencies. “We will start evening colleges in rural areas in all 117 assembly constituencies at the existing education centres, mainly schools. The schools get over by 2pm after which we can run these colleges. Initially, we will start the colleges with the existing infrastructure,” the minister said.
He said the target would be to make such colleges available in almost every village, adding that the proposal would be worked out soon for which the department intended to hold meetings with different vicechancellors, registrars and college principals in Chandigarh on April 23. “We will discuss the idea with V-Cs and principals and design the project,” he said. He said the idea was not to deprive girls of higher education as the colleges are situated far in the city. The security of girl students would be taken care of, he added.
“Many parents don’t allow their daughters to go in for higher studies as colleges are situated far off. While in some cases, girls have to do household work or are working. This will be beneficial to those girls who want to work along with pursuing studies,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}“Many parents don’t allow their daughters to go in for higher studies as colleges are situated far off. While in some cases, girls have to do household work or are working. This will be beneficial to those girls who want to work along with pursuing studies,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}“We will start the colleges in the existing schools and will add to the infrastructure, if needed. Special lecturers will be arranged,” he said.
The initiative will start with courses in humanities and vocational studies.