PU dept to map GPS coordinates of colleges

The pre-university department has written to all colleges in the state asking them to furnish details of their exact postal address along with GPS location.

Bothered by colleges submitting false information on their location and infrastructure, the department has now decided to make details of all colleges available on a public platform.

“In the past, there have been instances where colleges have told us that they had adequate infrastructure. However, when sought, they would show us a different building at the time of inspection. This way, no objection certificates were obtained,” said an official with the PU department.

The department had also received complaints from students, who had approached the college for admissions, stating that the location mentioned by the college in brochures and its website and the place where classes were actually conducted did not tally. It is in the wake of these complaints that the department has decided to upload details of all colleges along with the GPS location on their official site.

“We will compile all these details and upload it on the PU department website. This way, there will be transparency. The measure is beneficial for students also as they will know the colleges in their vicinity,” said Shikha C, in-charge director, department of PU Education.

A circular has been sent in this regard to all government and private PU colleges. “The work is underway. Once completed, the map can be accessed by all,” said Shikha.

In a recent meeting, the PU Lecturers’ Association had sought the department to consider travel distance while deputing them to other colleges.

“One lecturer, who was aged 50 years, had to travel from Bagalkot to Mudhol - close to 60 km. Both the places are poorly connected by bus. This is just one such case. There are many lecturers who travel to far-off places. We sought that the department use the same GPS mapping data to even give us deputations,” said a source.