Delegation of rural college staff meets Punjab Education Minister Pargat Singh

Doraha, November 2

A delegation of rural staff, including principals and senior faculty from different colleges met Minister for Higher Education Pargat Singh to discuss a road map for bringing rural higher education back on track. The delegation was led by Kuldeep Batta of GN College, Narangwal.

Batta along with others apprised the minister about the economic condition of the state, especially the rural youth, for whom it had become hard to find avenues for future growth or education in their vicinity. Most of them have given up studies after matriculation due to meagre resources. As a result, the gross enrolment ratio remains low.

The teachers told the minister that rural areas were passing through a critical phase. “Teaching as well as non-teaching staff of colleges is finding it hard to continue in their present position due to the financial crunch, falling student strength and apathetic attitude of the government. There is lack of facilities due to which rural students have no attraction to join such colleges. The first and the foremost need is the need for transportation in the absence of which most of the students, especially girls, have to discontinue their studies at the senior secondary level.” they said. — OC