BEd exams after govt decision on college affiliation

The first semester BEd exams of Bangalore University have been delayed as the university is awaiting a decision from the government on the status of affiliation for BEd colleges under scanner for irregularities.

Since the status of affiliation of many colleges is in a state of flux, the university has not been able to conduct the exams on time, said Vice-Chancellor Prof Thimme Gowda. The first semester BEd exams have been postponed three times this academic year, disturbing the calendar of events for colleges. Planned to be held from April 23, the BEd first semester exams are now likely start from June 10, if the government conveys its decision before that date.

“The Task Force on BEd colleges had given its report recommending disaffiliation of several colleges on the grounds that there were irregularities. The decision to disaffiliate colleges was not accepted in the BU syndicate. Later, the university constituted three committees to ensure objectivity in observations relating to the institutions. All these have been sent to the government seeking its decision. No admission tickets have been dispatched yet as the varsity is awaiting the government decision,” he said.

Prof Gowda was addressing presspersons on the sidelines of the university’s Academic Council meeting here on Monday. The meeting was held to pass the Local Inquiry Committee (LIC) reports, based on which affiliations of colleges will be renewed and permission given for new courses and seat enhancement.

Seat increase rejected

At the Council meeting, it was decided not to approve seat enhancement of Jain College. A committee chaired by one of the LIC chairmen D S Krishna had made such a recommendation  after noting that the college lacked adequate infrastructure. The college had sought seat enhancement from 160 to 360 for B Com and 160 to 400 for BBM.

However, Academic Council member Karan Kumar alleged irregularities in a government order permitting increase in seats to the college last year. The college had requested for seat enhancement (for 2012-13) by writing a letter to the then Higher Education minister in October 2012. The college had not applied for enhancement of seat at the time of renewal of affiliation and hence it was decided by the syndicate and the Academic Council not to grant more seats to the college without its application for the same. Later, the college approached the government.

The government order states that it got a request letter from the then registrar with regard to application of the college for seat enhancement. When neither of the university bodies passed the resolution, this decision is questionable, Karan Kumar said.

“This is a dissent of the Academic Council. This still has to be passed by the Syndicate,” Prof Thimme Gowda said.