A major step towards enhancing higher education facilities in the district was taken when a memorandum was sent to the Governor, in which it was pointed out that postgraduate education was urgently required in the Jamtara district, Jharkhand. The delegation, which included local representatives, academicians and student groups, demanded that postgraduate courses be introduced in the existing colleges, attributing to the rising aspirations gained by the youth and the inability to access the advanced academic prospects in the region.
As pointed out in the memorandum, although the district offers undergraduate education, students are forced to move distances to seek postgraduate training, or they migrate to other cities. Not only does this impose an enormous economic burden on the families, but it also deters many of the deserving students from further education after graduation. The lack of any higher education facilities has turned out to be a permanent issue, with a lot of people even worrying that it might only increase the learning and professional difference between the country districts and urban areas.
The memorandum stated that the introduction of postgraduate programs in science, commerce, humanities, and professional tracks would not only be beneficial to the local students but would also enhance the overall academic image of the district. The relocation is likely to create research opportunities, provide a way to work as a teacher, and promote the district as an educational centre. It further emphasized that the increase in postgraduate studies would motivate more female students to pursue an extension of higher education, since most of them cannot transfer to different locations because of social and financial factors.
Another aspect noted by community leaders was that the district has the proper infrastructure and faculty that can be enhanced by state support. They called on the Governor, who was the Chancellor of the state universities, to ask the respective departments and universities to act immediately. The delegation emphasized that education is the foundation of development, and expanding postgraduate education is important to close the gap in academic opportunities between the region in other opportunities.
The Governor assured the delegation that the concerns of the people would be considered and sent to the higher education department for consultation. Although there is no official announcement on the same yet, the filing of the memorandum has beckoned hope among the students and parents who feel that the future of thousands of young learners in their district could change with the accessibility of postgraduate studies.
Until further notice, the district is waiting for a positive response, and hopefully, this long-awaited demand will open the path to inclusive and accessible higher education.
