Last-minute approval for affiliation to BEd college

BU panel had said that the institution lacked infrastructure

Barely three days ahead of the Bangalore University’s first semester BEd examinations, which commenced on June 10, the State government permitted affiliation to BRV BEd college situated at Harohalli Cross, Mahadeshwaranagar Extension, in the City.

The Higher Education department permitted affiliation to the college on June 7. Based on the government's permission, BU granted affiliation to the college on June 8, two days before the exam. About 90 students from the newly-affiliated college are appearing for the ongoing exams.

The BEd programme usually begins in December or January every year. The BU deadline for admissions was January 6, 2013 and the last date for approval was January 18.

However, even before getting affiliation, the college had uploaded its student details on the university website. BU Vice Chancellor Prof B Thimme Gowda said the college had uploaded the details by January 25. “I had not taken charge as the V-C then. I had nothing to do with it,” he said even as he opined that the administration should have blocked non-functional colleges from uploading the information. Normally, a password is given to every institution to upload the student data. However, in this case it was open to all.

The college did not have varsity affiliation since 2008. It was not even on the BU list till recently.

In May 2013, the government had asked the university to send details of colleges under its purview, including details of the institutions disaffiliated. The name of this college does not figure in the university's list, a copy of which is  with Deccan Herald.

It was only in May that the BU Task Force and the department of Collegiate Education (DCE) officials inspected the college to consider its affiliation. While the DCE recommended its affiliation, the Task Force, which also inspected the college the same month, said the college lacked infrastructure.

The Task Force report stated: “There is no dedicated place earmarked for BEd programme. There was no evidence to believe that instructional work of BEd programme is going on the premises as classrooms, laboratories or library were not found.”

Higher Education department principal secretary Rajneesh Goel said the affiliation was granted in the interest of students only for this year. He maintained that it was not fresh affiliation but only a renewal of affiliation.