Daltonganj: Governor-cum-chancellor of the state universities, Santosh Kumar Gangwar, on Monday expressed concern over poor situation of higher education in Jharkhand.

While speaking at the 3rd convocation of the Nilamber Pitamber University (NPU) in Daltonganj, Gangwar said, “While Jharkhand fares better in primary and secondary education, when it comes to higher education, it’s at its nadir. Youngsters are forced to move out of the state for higher studies elsewhere, but in that proportion, outside students don’t come here in their pursuit of higher education.”

He added that NPU is in its 16th year of existence, but it has held just three convocations so far.

“Why were thousands of its students made to wait for years to have their degrees? We are to answer it,” Gangwar said, adding that he has asked the heads of the state universities to hold convocations every year. Making an observation, he said that unlike other varsities in the state, even at NPU, girls outnumber boys in gold medals.

He said efforts are on to tide over the crises of the state universities, and the results of the efforts would be coming to the public domain soon. A total of 55 boys and girls obtained gold medals against the target of 77.