Lok Sabha Question No. 63 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Challenges Faced by Students of Jharkhand in Higher Education
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Dulu Mahato, Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.63

ANSWERED ON 25/11/2024

## Challenges Faced by Students of Jharkhand in Higher Education

†63 Shri Dulu Mahato: Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato:

## Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the challenges faced by the students in getting higher education in the State of  Jharkhand  particularly  Dhanbad  alongwith  the  measures  taken/likely  to  be  taken  by  the Government to get higher education available to students;

(b)  whether  the  students  of  Dhanbad  District  in  the  State  of  Jharkhand  have  adequate resources and facilities to pursue higher education;

(c)  the  manner  in  which  technology  is  being  integrated  in  the  classrooms  alongwith  the challenges coming in its way;

(d) the manner in which access of higher education is ensured for common students and the aspects to be focused in this regard; and

(e)  the  steps  taken/proposed to be taken by the Government and educational institutions to increase the access to higher education and measures proposed to be taken to provide better opportunities to students?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (Dr. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) & (b): State of Jharkhand has six centrally funded Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) such  as  Central  university  of  Jharkhand,  Ranchi;  Indian  Institute  of  Technology  -  ISM, Dhanbad;  Indian  Institute  of  Management,  Ranchi;  National  Institute  of  Technology, Jamshedpur; Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Ranchi; National Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Hatia, Ranchi.

Dhanbad District has a well-established higher education infrastructure  managed under the aegis of Binod Bihari Mahto Koyalanchal University (BBMKU) which offers postgraduate programs  in 27 PG  Departments,  including  specialized fields  such  as  Management, Education,  Mass  Communication,  Art  &  Culture,  Law,  Foreign  Languages,  Life  Sciences, Computer Science, and Environmental Science & Disaster Management. At the undergraduate level, Dhanbad district is served by 09 Constituent Colleges and 11 Affiliated Colleges. Additionally, there are 13 B.Ed. Colleges, 01 Medical College, and 01 Law College providing specialized professional education to students in the region. Collectively, total of 89,889  students  are  enrolled  in  the  University,  of  which  43,054  are  females,  reflecting encouraging  female  participation  in  higher  education.  While  the  existing  resources  and facilities are reasonably developed, they are continually improving to better meet the needs of students in the region.

(c)  to  (e):  A  number  of  transformative  changes  have  taken  place  in  higher  education  after announcement of NEP  2020.  In  Higher  Education,  various  initiatives  /  reforms  have  been carried  out  such  as  National  Credit  Framework  (NCrF)  and  National  Higher  Education Qualification Framework  (NHEQF)  in  conjunction  with  guidelines  /  regulations like Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programme; Multiple Entry and Exit in Academic  Programme  offered  by  Higher  Education  Institutions;  Transforming  HEIs  into multi-disciplinary Institutions; pursuing two Academic Programme simultaneously; Automated  Permanent  Academic  Account  Registry  (APAAR  ID)    of  individual  student which will act as lifelong identity to track their educational journey and achievements from, pre-primary to higher education; revised regulation of ODL / Online Education; permitting up to 40% credits in regular courses using SWAYAM platform;  launch of new SWAYAM Plus portal with aim to enhance skill and upskilling and reskilling of existing manpower employed in  different  sectors;  Integration  of  technology  in  administration  of HEIs  from  admission to grant  of  degree  through  SAMARTH;  permitting  HEIs  for  two  admission  cycles  in  an academic year; enhanced reputation of the Indian HEIs in international ranking.

For enhancing access to Higher Education, number of initiatives have been taken like:

(i)  Opening  of  more  HEIs  -  The  number  of  Universities/University  level  Institutions registered under AISHE have increased to 1168 in 2021-22 from 760 in 2014-15. Similarly, number of Colleges registered under AISHE have increased to 45473 in 2021-22 from 38498 in 2014-15.

(ii)  Implementing  various  Scholarship  and  Fellowship  schemes  for  providing  financial assistance  to  students,  including  for  SC/ST/OBC  and  Minority  students  and  underserved regions.

(iii)  Allowing  well  performing  HEIs  (based  on  NAAC  and  NIRF  ranking)  by  University Grants Commission (UGC) to offer full Open Distance Learning/Online Programmes based on quality parameters.

(iv) Providing much-needed flexibility and appropriate Exit as well Re-entry options in the Higher Education system, to facilitate students to choose their learning trajectory.

(v) Providing anytime, anywhere learning opportunities for all learners through Study Webs for Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) platform, which provides high quality structured online courses in multiple disciplines.

(vi) Conducting JEE, NEET (UG) and Common University Entrance Test (CUET) Exams in 13 languages, to facilitate students and making available Text Books in Indian Languages to facilitate students, particularly from vernacular/rural background.

(vii)  10%  reservation  for  Economically  Weaker  Section;  reservation  for  SC/ST/OBC; preparatory  classes  for  SC/STs  for  appearing  in  JEE  exam;  JEE  exam  being  conducted  in local / regional languages etc.

The  National  Education  Policy  2020  (NEP  2020)  makes  provisions  to  ensure  full  access, equality,  and  inclusiveness.  Since  education  is  a  subject  in  the  Concurrent  List,  the implementation of NEP 2020 is a joint responsibility of the central and state governments. The government is committed to providing quality education to all.