Imphal, June 12: Emphasizing on streamlining the higher education system the State Higher Education Department is finalising processes to establish only science colleges at institutions where currently both arts and science streams are available.

According to Department sources, the plan to be implemented on priority basis in Imphal areas is in view of decline of number of students seeking admission in science streams at Government colleges where both the streams are open.

Another important factor for the proposed plan is due to student-teacher imbalance with several colleges facing arts stream teacher shortages compared to other institutions unable to lure students pursue arts stream courses, explained the source.

Out of the present total of 68 Colleges in Manipur, 28 concerns State Government, 33 privately run and seven aided ones.

While some Government colleges out of the total have facilities to extend both arts arid science studies, cases prevail where teachers far out-number students for some subjects in arts streams and in some cases there are demands for deputing adequate number of faculty members prompting the Department to envisage the new plan of college segregation.

The underlying idea of the segregation is also to ensure full functioning of either science or arts streams at select Govt colleges, maintained the source.

In the first phase, the Deparment is planning to implement the new policy at colleges located in Imphal areas.

Among those colleges where both streams exists and likely to witness the new change are Oriental College, Modern College, Manipur College etc.

Plans are also afoot to expand the system at Thoubal and Bishnupur districts by establishing only science streams while policy for opening separate arts colleges would be taken up after successful implementation of the first phase pertaining to science streams.

The Higher Education Department proposal for rationalization of teachers in higher education sector has also been already approved by the Govt and implementation became effective from March 15 with the Govt issuing an order on the matter in June 5 informed the source.

A nine member 'Task Force' has also been constituted comprising of college principals and Department officials.

With the implementation of the rationalization policy BA first year admissions in 'philosophy' subject would not be entertained at eight Govt run institutions from the current academic session (2004-05).The colleges are GP Women's, Imphal College, Oriental, Modern, Lilong Haoreibi, YK (Wangjing), Nambol L Sanoi and Presidency (Motbung).

The deletion of philosophy subject at these colleges is due to negligible number of students seeking admission compared to strength of teachers, reasoned the source.

However, philosophy departments would continue to function at seven other Govt colleges like CI Collge (Bishnupur), Thoubal College, Ideal Girls (Imphal), Maharaj Bodhchandra, NG College and DMC Arts, it added.

Similarly, commerce subject admission will cease with ffect from the current session at Modern College while at Kakching's Kha-Manipur College the commerce department will remain functional.

Mizo subject opened at DMC Arts, GP Women's, Presidency, Churachandpur College and Lamka College (Churachandpur) will also be converted as MIL subject, informed the source while adding that teacher rationalisation on the matter has also come into effect.

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