Patna: Governor Syed Ata Hasnain, who also serves as the chancellor of state universities, has directed all 211 newly established degree colleges at the block level to introduce the teaching of Urdu and Maithili from the upcoming academic session. A communiqué from the chancellor’s secretariat confirmed that currently only six subjects—Hindi, English, Economics, History, Political Science, and Sociology—are being introduced in these colleges for the new academic session starting July 1. The chancellor has instructed that necessary steps be taken to commence Urdu and Maithili instruction from the next academic session.
Background and Context
The directive aims to promote regional languages and cultural heritage in higher education. These 211 colleges are part of a broader initiative to expand access to higher education at the grassroots level in Bihar.
Next Steps for Implementation
The chancellor’s secretariat will coordinate with university administrations to ensure the recruitment of qualified faculty and development of curriculum for Urdu and Maithili. The move is expected to benefit students from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
About the Author
Basant Kumar Mishra has been pursuing journalism as a hobby for the last 53 years and with TOI since July 1987. He covers higher education, environment, and human stories. He taught geology at Patna University for more than 41 years and served as principal of Patna Science College. He also served as a member of the National Knowledge Commission working group on undergraduate education (2005-08).
