Guwahati, 28 July (HS): The Assam Government on Tuesday introduced the Assam Higher Education Council Bill, 2026 in the State Assembly, proposing the creation of a new coordinating body to strengthen academic and administrative governance in higher education in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Introducing the Bill, Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu said the proposed Assam Higher Education Council would serve as a central coordinating institution to bridge the gap between the State Government, universities and the University Grants Commission (UGC). He noted that while the UGC functions as the national regulator and universities operate autonomously under state laws, there is currently no dedicated mechanism for academic coordination within the state.

The minister said the council would facilitate the implementation of academic policies, improve institutional coordination and enhance the quality of higher education across Assam. He added that NEP 2020 emphasizes stronger coordination, quality enhancement and efficient governance in higher education, making such an institutional framework essential.

According to the Bill, the Assam Higher Education Council will have a two-tier structure comprising a General Council and an Executive Council. The Executive Council will be headed by a senior state government official, while the General Council will include representatives from universities, autonomous colleges, general degree colleges, and a nominated member of the UGC. The council will provide policy recommendations and promote coordinated development of higher education institutions in the state.

Dr. Pegu said the new body would make academic and executive decision-making more effective, ensure uniform implementation of policies, strengthen collaboration among universities and improve the overall quality of higher education.

The Education Minister also briefed the Assembly on the impact of the recent floods on the education sector. He said fresh textbooks have been arranged for students in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts whose books and school uniforms were destroyed, with distribution set to begin within the next two days.

He said the government's preliminary assessment indicates that around 1.5 lakh students in flood-affected areas will require new school uniforms. Preparations are underway, while repair and reconstruction of damaged school buildings will commence after detailed damage assessment reports are received.

Dr. Pegu said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are conducting detailed surveys of damaged school campuses. Restoration and reconstruction work will begin on a priority basis once the assessment is completed to ensure the early resumption of normal academic activities.

According to the government's preliminary estimates, nearly 80% of schools in Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat districts were affected by the recent floods, requiring extensive restoration and infrastructure upgrades. The state government assured that all necessary measures would be taken on priority to minimise disruption to students' education.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash