Colleges get govt nod to add seats, shifts

Guwahati: After several students' organizations demanded an increase in the number of college seats in the state, the Sarbananda Sonowal government has given colleges the go-ahead to add seats or start additional shifts to accommodate more students.
The directorate of higher education has asked college principals to furnish an action-taken report on the matter.
The government's move is aimed at ensuring that all students who have passed Class XII can pursue higher education.
In a recent meeting, the education department entrusted B Borooah College with the task of helping students who were unable to get admission elsewhere. In a letter to principals, the directorate said many Class XII pass-outs would not get admission due to high cut-offs and shortage of seats in colleges.
"B Borooah College has been instructed to facilitate the process of admission in Guwahati city. Students from arts, science, and commerce backgrounds who could not get admission anywhere will be absorbed in the city colleges depending on vacancy," Assam College Principals' Council president BK Das said on Saturday.
Cotton College, B Borooah College, Handique Girls' College and Gauhati Commerce College, the leading colleges of the city, recorded high cut-off marks this year.
All Assam Students' Union (Aasu), SFI and several students' bodies had urged the government to take steps to give equal opportunities to all deserving students.