No Ban on Open Schooling Admissions: Assam Education Minister Clarifies Amid Cachar College Row

Cachar College has come under public scrutiny after allegedly denying admission to a student citing his Open Schooling background. However, the Education Minister of Assam, Ranoj Pegu in a conversation with Barak Bulletin has clarified that no directive from the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) prohibits such admissions, contradicting the college’s claim.

On 21 June, a student named Bijoy Nath from Silchar shared a video on Instagram expressing his distress after he was reportedly denied admission to an undergraduate course at Cachar College. According to Bijoy, the refusal was based on the fact that he had passed out from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), a form of open learning.

Bijoy claimed that the Principal of Cachar College told him that students from Open Schooling were not eligible for admission, stating that this was a directive from the Directorate of Higher Education. In his video, Bijoy questioned the rationale behind allowing institutions like NIOS to exist if students are denied entry to colleges after completing their education through such platforms.

To verify the claim, Barak Bulletin reached out to the Education Minister of Assam, Ranoj Pegu. Responding to our query, the minister clearly stated that no such directive has been issued by the Directorate of Higher Education. This response casts doubt on the justification provided by Cachar College in rejecting the student.

Efforts were made by Barak Bulletin to contact the Principal of Cachar College for their version of the story. However, despite multiple attempts, our calls remained unanswered.

For context, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It provides flexible education options to learners who cannot attend regular schools due to various reasons. NIOS certificates are valid and recognised by most universities and government bodies across India. Students often choose NIOS for its flexibility, affordability, and inclusive approach to education.

Following the alleged denial, Bijoy, along with another student who faced a similar issue, visited the Office of the District Commissioner and submitted an application seeking intervention. As per his follow-up video, the students have also planned to reach out to the local MLA and the police to bring attention to the matter. Both of his videos have since gone viral, receiving widespread support from netizens across the Barak Valley.