Chandigarh: In a bid to improve the quality of teaching in this union territory (UT), colleges will introduce from this academic session a feedback system in which students can evaluate their teachers, officials said here on Friday.

"Taking feedback from students is quite essential to improve the quality of teaching. Therefore, we have decided to introduce student feedback mechanism in all colleges. Feedback from students will help the faculty members in bridging the gap between the students' expectations and what is being delivered to them," education-cum-home secretary, Ram Niwas, said.

"The format of the feedback form has been circulated to the principals. We have issued directions that each college should devise a mechanism to ensure that feedback forms are filled up by the students in the last week of August, December and February," he said.

The Chandigarh education department is also set to introduce various other reforms to improve education in colleges. They have issued strict directions to teachers to remain present in classrooms, irrespective of the students' strength.

"Irrespective of the strength of the students, the faculty member has to be present in the classroom during the appointed period. Even if there are no students in the class, the teacher has to remain present there. We will constitute special teams to go for surprise inspection of all classrooms," Niwas said.

"These days, students are under a lot of stress due to numerous reasons, so every college should have a counseling cell. There should be counseling helpline numbers as well as drug de-addiction helpline numbers in each college and they should be prominently displayed at various places in the college as well as in hostels," he pointed out.

There are at least 15 private and government colleges in Chandigarh.

Besides, to keep an eye on anti-social elements, Niwas also asked college authorities to install CCTV cameras on their premises.

"CCTV cameras would act as deterrent for anti-social elements and all colleges should immediately install them at both the entry and exit points. This will also help in curbing the menace of eve teasing and ragging," Niwas said. IANS