Governor for uniform fee, syllabii in Bihar Univs
Gavai said a 'broader framework' would be developed to govern vocational courses, reports Arun Kumar.
Running vocational courses without proper faculties and arbitrary fee structure would not be allowed anymore. Chancellor-cum-Governor RS Gavai has asked for uniformity not only in the fee structure, but also in the curriculum all over the State to give the students a wider choice and quality education.
Maintaining that he was aware that the vocational courses in the State were not being run as they should be, Gavai had recently told HT that a 'broader framework' would be developed to govern vocational courses.
“Moves are afoot to bring about uniformity in the fee structure and syllabus so that the students could compete with the best,” he added.
All the vocational courses being run in the universities of the State are self-financed. It leads to different fee structure for the same course in different universities. Even colleges in the same university have different fee structure.
The syllabi of the courses also differ from one institution to another. In Bihar, there are several universities offering vocational courses, but there has always been a question mark over their quality, barring a few exceptions. Patna University has 28 vocational courses and it is in the process of starting 23 more. Magadh University also has a large number of vocational courses.
What is significant is that the existing faculties are running most of these courses, which is also a Hobson’s choice in many cases due to poor payment. "Though it may appear good, but it has also created a crisis for the seriously understaffed university," said a senior official of the university.
This was apparently the reason why Krishna Kumar, OSD to the Chancellor, expressed displeasure over a teacher of Patna Science College engaging class in the BN College.
Though it apparently did not go down well with the PU teachers, Kumar made it clear that no teacher could earn from two places during the working hours.
“If at all they have to engage classes of vocational courses, they must seek prior information from the head of the institution and the VC concerned. Else, quality guest faculties of specialised courses should be roped in. Regular courses cannot be made a casualty in the name of vocational courses,” he added.
The problem, however, is not confined to PU alone. Recently, Magadh University VC BN Pandey also constituted a committee to look into the way the vocational courses are being run following a number of complaints from students.
The committee would also carry out surprise raids to 'unravel' the truth behind vocational courses.
Email Arun Kumar: arunkr@hindustantimes.com