The Punjab Government is all set to open up 13 new Government Colleges in the state this year. Out of these, 2 colleges are professional, 2 Model Degree and 9 colleges are Degree colleges. These colleges would impart quality education to the students of rural and border area.Disclosing this, Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, Higher Education and Language Minister, Punjab said that the construction work of these colleges was in full swing and about to complete in near future. He said that one professional, two model degree and nine other colleges would be started from the current session 2016-17. He said that in 2 professional and 2 model degree colleges would start in collaboration with Rashtriya Uchttam Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA). Two professional Government colleges, Punjab Arts and Sports College, Jalandhar and Punjab Aeronautical College of Engineering, Patiala would be opened up with the investment of Rs.26 crore each. He said that the Punjab state has contributed excess share of Rs.6.47 crore besides contributing its share in proportion to the ratio of 60:40 as center and state share. He said that the 70 per cent construction work of Punjab Arts and Sports College, Jalandhar has been completed and the academia session would start from the current session. He said that although the construction of Punjab Aeronautical College of Engineering, Patiala would be completed this year but the academia would start from the next session.
Mr. Rakhra further informed that two model degree colleges are opened in Pathankot and Ferozepur with investment of Rs.12 crore each with the collaboration of RUSA. He said that the Punjab has contributed excess share of Rs.4.44 crore besides contributing its share in proportion to the ratio of 60:40 as center and state share. The construction work of these colleges has been completed and admission process in these colleges would start in arts, science and commerce streams from current session.The Higher Education Minister further said that besides these 4 colleges, the state government, fulfilling the ambitious project of Chief Minister, Punjab Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, would open up 9 more government colleges to impart higher quality education to the rural students. The Government has demarcated rural areas and towns to open these new government colleges. These colleges would be opened up in Dharamkot (Moga), Sujanpur (Pathankot), Dhuri (Sangrur), Kishankot (Gurdaspur), Bahadarpur (Mansa), Barnala, Phillaur (Jalandhar), Nakodar (Jalandhar), Moonak (Sangrur). Out of these, the construction work of 4 colleges at Dharamkot, Sujanpur, Dhuri and Kishankot, would be 100 percent completed by the end of this month and academia would be started from current sessuib 2016-17 in arts, science and commerce streams. The construction work of rest 5 colleges at Bahadarpur, Barnala, Phillaur, Nakodar and Moonak would also be completed by this year but admissions in arts steams will be started from current session.