Imphal, April 26: The State Govt is actively mulling over the possibility of clubbing colleges in the greater Imphal area offering Arts and Science streams and converting them to only Science colleges.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, a well placed source said that efforts are also on to re-open the 10+2 courses in colleges at Bishnupur and Thoubal districts to ease the pressure on the Higher Secondary schools.

A fact finding report termed as �Draft Rationalisation policy� has also been submitted to the State Government by the recently instituted Rationalisation Committee of the Higher Education Department, revealed the source adding that process is on to implement the recommendation within this year.

The proposal, as per the official version, is a result of intense Government efforts to ensure positive academic atmosphere and enhance competition among the Govt institutions in Imphal.

The important recommendations submitted by the Rationalisation Committee to the government (meant for implementation from the June/July academic session of higher education institutes) include strategic approach with global outlook.

It is with this attitude that recommendations to convert colleges offering Arts and Science streams to colleges offering only Science stream was mooted by the Committee, explained the source while adding that in the first phase, Imphal College and oriental College in Imphal West and Modern College in Imphal East districts would be converted to colleges offering only Science stream.

Such a move will not only enhance the reputation of colleges offering only Arts stream but will also address the problem of lack of students in colleges offering only Arts stream like MB College, ideal College and NG College, observed the source.

This will also lend an aura of specialisation in each college, said the source.

Stating that Arts teachers of colleges affected by the �conversion� policy would be transferred to institutes exclusively offering only Arts subjects, the source added that teachers teaching common subject like Mathematics would be deployed at the converted Science colleges.

Steps are also on to ensure at least one permanent lecturer in colleges which are currently taken care of by part-timers, disclosed the source and asserted that process is also on to shift tutor and demonstrators from �abolished 10+2� system to institutes offering such course.

Philosophy course offered at DM College of Arts and Manipur College in Imphal West, CI College in Bishnupur, Thoubal College and MB College in Imphal East will also be stopped in a phased manner for reopening the subject at other colleges to eliminate problem of lack of students, said the source and added that similar steps may be taken up for Commerce stream.

On the other hand, a policy has been envisaged for reopening the 10+2 systems in some select Govt colleges to alleviate problem of students/guardians in learning at private institutes, said the source.

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