JOIN USDivide over Bangalore University trifurcation
Academics are divided over the issue of trifurcation of Bangalore University stating that multiple factors will have to be taken into account before taking a final decision on splitting the varsity. While some are for it, some others are advising caution.
The overarching feeling though is that the academic community has not been consulted in the decision to trifurcate the university. This is a feeling among senior people like former vice chancellors who have run the university.
Prof N R Shetty, former vice chancellor, is worried about creation of resources for the new universities. “Dividing the university into three parts means a strain on the resources of the main university. Do we have enough resources in the first place to run three universities? Or, can we raise new resources for the two new universities? If we can’t, then going in for division would not be advisable. If we can, it should not be out of the existing resources of Bangalore University. We should make a proper assessment because students will be the ultimate sufferers. Given that this is a complicated question, more thinking is necessary before a final decision is taken.”
Trifurcation is the wrong description and terminology for bringing up two more universities, but the idea itself is not misplaced, says Prof K Siddappa, who has also been the vice chancellor of the university.
“Trifurcation is the wrong name because new universities should not come out of the division of the resources of the existing university – whether it is funding, infrastructure or faculty. I am all for two universities as long as they are brought up independently as new universities with resources, faculty, funding of their own. Sharing will bring strain on the original university. Already, Bangalore University has problems of its own and to now share what little it gets will bring down the efficiency of the university further. What I suggest is carving out or setting up a new university rather than trifuracting them. We have to bring in new staff, new academic centres, new funding, altogether new infrastructure. They should be new, independent universities.”
The former VC says there is an average 40 to 50 per cent shortage of faculty in all universities in the State and creating new universities would mean increased shortage of faculty and infrastructure. “From where will you hire new faculty when there is already a shortage in existing universities? As long as you can raise independent resources, there is no problem with three universities. The problems of the main university should not also be extended to the new universities.”
Siddappa is clear that Bangalore University is too large to handle the colleges under it. “Largeness affects efficient, effective administration. A UGC guideline also states that a university cannot have more than 200 colleges in a single university. With 600-700 colleges to manage, it does make sense to create two more universities.”
It is wrong to assume that development of a region is based on the commencement of an university, says Associate Professor M Dattatreya. “Trifurcation is not an easy answer to the woes of the main university. Development is an independent problem where all basic facilities are provided by the government. A new university cannot solve infrastructure issues bogging down a region.”
Dattatreya says the best minds don’t come to academic centres in rural or semi-urban areas. “Production of knowledge happens when good minds meet. Why do you think the best people don’t come to universities in rural setups? The government has to ensure proper roads, food, water, electricity, communication and transport network. If the region doesn’t have all this, why would people come here? As it is, there is a 40 to 60 per cent shortage of staff in all universities in the State. How will the new universities hire good scholars when there’s already a dearth in the main universities?”
The associate professor points to the state of the new university in Vijayapura (Bijapur). “Bijapur University is a decade old. But why it does it have a 70 per cent shortage of faculty even now? Why are skeletal staff teaching at the university? Why does Ballari have 60 per cent shortage of staff? Tumakuru University around 40 per cent? Davangere University around 80 per cent? How do you explain this? Without proper connectivity, healthcare and infrastructure, people wouldn’t venture there. There are lessons to be learnt from universities set up in districts and second or third-tier cities.”
Moreover, the problems that have bogged down Bangalore University have to be taken into account. “Bangalore University is no doubt collapsing under its own weight. For very long, there has been corruption in the university administration, apart from inefficiency. Now, if you set up two new universities, you will have some of these very people there. You would also be creating bureaucratic posts - and they will be the ones to enjoy what little facilties will be built there. Waiting for teachers to come, administration will be running the show.”
Apart from all these problems, Bangalore University is never known to hold exams on time and declare results on time. It doesn’t even have a proper calendar to run the university according to a schedule. “Extreme care should be taken not to allow these problems to creep into the new universities. So, it is a difficult decision. All these considerations will have to be taken into account before taking a final decision,” says Dattatreya.
Prof M G Krishnan, who has served in the university in various capacities over 31 year, including as registrar, says that the aspirations of students and parents should be taken into account before deciding on the location. “Parents and teachers have not been consulted. Their aspirations are the most important criteria in deciding the venue of the new universities. Typically, it is politics and vested interests that decide the location of the university. I hope this will not happen.”
Krishnan is for division of the university along geographical lines. “Establish the university in a proper place. Provide infrastructure, good services, proper facilities and then people will come and teach in the different locations. Also, decide on the resources – will you give it out of the existing university or will you create a separate fund. Will you have separate administrative blocks, people, faculty or what? These things are yet to be sorted out. Any decision has to take into account these factors.”
Junior academic staff, too, are part of the debate. They say there is worry among academic staff and students about how the new academic calendar will be framed if the division takes place. The holding of exams, evaluation of answer scripts and declaration of results are too crucial.
Will the new universities do this on their own, or will Bangalore University take responsibility? Will it be the same academic calendar as the one followed by Bangalore University and if it is the same, are there enough staff to ensure that everything is on time and as per plans? And where will the exams be written? Whether in Bengaluru or in Kolar where one university is likely to be opened? Who will evaluate the scripts and declare the results? These are all questions to which there have been no easy answers.
The division of the university is a work in progress and can happen only when these questions are answered.