Speaking at a function here, the education minister said the state had expedited the establishment of 12 government colleges in Assam on the lines of Guwahati's prestigious Cotton College.
"The objective behind opening new government colleges is to achieve excellence in the field of higher education. Hopefully, we will be able to open the colleges by 2016," he said.
"Our government wants at least one purely government or a government-aided college in every block headquarters across the state so that students are not deprived of higher education," Sarma added.
He added that the Assam government had also charted plans to boost school education in the state. Sarma said the state had enough primary schools for every kilometre, except in the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, where, he said, 2,500 more primary schools were needed to enroll all students.
Sarma added that for every 3 kilometre, the state needed 4,000 ME schools and for every 5 kilometre, it needed 700 high schools.
The education minister added that in Assam, 1,200 more higher secondary schools were required to enroll all matriculates.
"Healthcare and education should be the priorities of the government and an escapist attitude in these two sectors is not acceptable," added Sarma.
At the same function, the state education department distributed post allotment orders to college employees. The move is expected to benefit the staff of 57 colleges of the state.