BEd Task Force submits report

 The B Ed Task Force of the Bangalore University (BU) that conducted inspections of teacher education colleges affiliated to the university submitted its findings to BU acting V-C Rangaswamy on Saturday.

In the wake of several irregularities in B Ed colleges affiliated to BU, former V-C Prabhu Dev had constituted the Task Force earlier this year to regulate the quality of education offered in these colleges.

Headed by Academic Council member Karan Kumar, the team comprised M B Keerthi Narayana Swamy, Reader, Department of Physical Education, BU, Haseen Taj, Reader, Department of Education, BU, R Nagarajaiah, Retired Professor of Education and Rajashekara Murthy, AFO, Bangalore University.

The Task Force has rated the colleges on a scale of 100, based on the extent of irregularities: gross irregularities - 0 to 24; irregularities - 25 to 49; potential to improve - 50 to 74; satisfactory (75-100). The grades have been assigned taking into account the infrastructure and instructional facilities, including number of teachers and regularity of classes held.

Renewal of affiliation

The team has recommended renewal of affiliation for the academic year 2012-13 for colleges under the satisfactory category. The colleges will have to fulfil the recommendations for improvement within the next six months.

For the next category with scope for improvement, the team has recommended conditional renewal of affiliation for the next year.

The colleges will have to improve in the areas noted in the report within six months, failing which they will be penalised Rs 1 lakh and the university will initiate their disaffiliation.

With respect to those institutions under ‘irregularities’ category, it has been recommended that admissions in these colleges be suspended for the academic year 2012-13, while giving them one last chance to improve the quality of education offered.

The Task Force will visit the colleges after six months and conduct another round of inspection.

If the state of affairs remains poor, it will be recommended that the National Council of Teacher Education disaffiliate them immediately. The report asks for disaffiliation of colleges under the ‘gross irregularities’ category immediately.

The top five colleges recommended for affiliation this year are: Dr Ambedkar College of Education, Sri Sarvajna College of Education, Vijaya Teachers College, BES College of Education, MES Teachers College and RV Teachers College. While there are more than 100 B Ed colleges affiliated to BU, only 12 have made it to the ‘satisfactory’ category.