Patna. Every year, girl students enroll in science in women’s colleges of the city. In science, the most important thing is practical after theory. The role of Lab Assistant is important in doing practicals but in the last few years, there are posts of Lab Assistant in women’s colleges but one or not even one is present in it. In such a situation, the students do practicals in the lab on their own and with the help of the teacher. Among women’s colleges, only Patna Women’s College has lab assistants.
The students said that they face difficulty in doing many practicals.
Students studying in various women’s colleges said that they do not get high marks in practicals. One reason for this is the absence of lab assistants. If the teacher has time then practical is done otherwise one gets a chance to do practical only after a long gap. If you need any material in the practical exam, you have to ask from the teachers. There is no problem in being a lab assistant.
There is not a single permanent lab assistant in any field except Zoology.
In JD Women’s College, science is taught from Intermediate to PG. In such a situation, practical is not easy without a lab assistant. College Principal Prof. Meera Kumari said that one more permanent lab assistant is available in the college through outsourcing. There is not a single permanent lab assistant in Physics, Chemistry and Botany, whereas there is one permanent lab assistant each in Psychology and Home Science. In case of emergency, people are called for practicals through outsourcing.
Not a single sanctioned post for Lab Assistant
In Sri Aurobindo Women’s College, Intermediate and PG studies are conducted. In such a situation, students do practicals of Zoology, Botany, Physics, Chemistry with the help of teachers. College Principal Prof. Lalan Kumar said that the college does not have a single sanctioned post in these subjects. Talks have been held with the college for lab assistants. There are teachers in Physics, Botany and Zoology but now there are no teachers in Chemistry either.
No Lab Assistant in Zoology, Botany, Chemistry and Physics
In Ganga Devi Mahila College, practicals are conducted in the lab with the support of teachers. There are sanctioned posts of two lab assistants in Zoology and Physics and the lab assistants of both the subjects have retired. There was one lab assistant in Botany and one in Chemistry, they have also retired. There are two sanctioned posts in Psychology, one of which is Assistant, while both the sanctioned posts in Home Science are vacant. The college administration said that for the subjects in which there is no lab assistant, the concerned teacher conducts the practical for the girl students with the help of other teachers. Whereas in the year 2016, during NAAC, all the lab chemicals were brought. However, whenever chemicals are required in the lab, the college provides them.
Lab assistant has not joined yet
In Magadh Mahila College, apart from Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany, there are sanctioned posts of Lab Assistant in Home Science and Psychology. In such a situation, many posts related to Lab Assistant are lying vacant since last few years. College Principal Dr. Namita Kumari said that a letter was received from PU in 2022 in which approval was given for 9 lab assistants and it is also mentioned from which agency to get them. All the information has been sent by the college to the university but no joining has been done yet. At present the college requires 2 lab assistants in Psychology, 2 in Chemistry, 2 in Home Science, 1 in Zoology, 1 in Botany and 1 in Physics. In the year 2020, a budget was received from the Bihar government due to which the chemicals in the lab have been updated.