The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has awarded Basanti Devi College in Gariahat an A+ grade in its fourth accreditation cycle.

The college, which in the last cycle got a B+, improved its rank by two notches in the latest round of assessment, whose results were declared on December 6.

An official in the higher education department said that with Basanti Devi College having been awarded A+, the number of Bengal colleges with the second highest NAAC grade now stands at 10.

Four colleges in the state have been awarded the highest grade, A++, in the fourth accreditation cycle.

Indrila Guha, the principal of Basanti Devi College, said the grade, valid for five years, was based on a CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 3.34 out of 4 on a seven-point scale.

“The accomplishment demonstrates the college’s dedication to general development through women’s empowerment and upholding strong academic standards,” she said.

The NAAC peer team visited the college in late November.

On a seven-point scale, the college has scored 3.8 in curricular aspects, 3.34 for teaching-learning and evaluation, 2.55 for research, innovations and extension, 3.6 for infrastructure and learning resources, 3 for student support and progression, governance, 3.47 for leadership and management and 3.8 for institutional values and best practices.

The rise in the number of colleges getting themselves assessed by the national body suggests that the colleges in Bengal are shedding their opposition to getting themselves accredited so they can apply for funds under various UGC schemes.

The Telegraph reported in December 2015 that of the 500-odd general degree colleges in Bengal, only 72 had been accredited by the NAAC.

The count has now reached 220.

“We expect the count to go up to 400 by January 2025. Since 2022, we have taken several steps for the colleges to get themselves accredited. We have held workshops through the mentor-mentee teams so the colleges could be motivated to prepare a self-assessment report. The effort has started delivering results,” said a senior education department official.

The mentors were selected from the colleges that got A++ and A+ grades and those who have acted as assessors for the NAAC.

The principal of Basanti Devi College is an assessor for the NAAC.

“The more the colleges get themselves accredited, the more avenues will open for them to get funds from the central and state agencies,” the official said.