With no full-time principals & PE teachers, govt PU colleges reeling in Karnataka

Kalaburagi: Government pre-university colleges in Karnataka have been buffeted by multiple crises, with shortage of full-time principals and absence of non-teaching staff and physical education teachers crippling their functioning. 

More than half of the total 1,300 government PU colleges in the state were without permanent principals till May this year, a startling fact that exposes the dire state of affairs in these institutions. This has led to administrative challenges and raised concerns about academic standards.

These colleges are being managed by in-charge principals who are also saddled with additional responsibilities of other colleges. Educationalists contend that these temporary arrangements could result in the misuse of position, examination malpractices and corruption. 

All the districts, except Bengaluru North, are reeling under the shortage. Hassan district leads with a shortage of 36 principals, followed by Raichur (34), Koppal (31), Mandya (29) and Bagalkot (27).

To rectify the situation, the government promoted 287 lecturers to the post of principals in May and transferred them to 'C' zone colleges in villages from district and taluk headquarters where they were serving. But the remedy backfired badly.

The move to notify the transfers on May 15 and conducting the counselling the very next day was resented by the lecturers, who decided to forego the first promotion in their service period of nearly three decades.

“The KPSC recruited general category lecturers for PU colleges in the 1996-97 academic year and they did not get a single promotion even after serving 28 years," said educationist Zahid Ahmed N Jagirdar.

"Now, they are not in a position to celebrate their first promotion as they are not suitably placed. Due to this, a total of 66 senior lecturers out of nearly 300 lecturers had to forego their promotion. Though a decision was taken in 2016 to fill 25% of the principal posts directly to induct young blood for effective administration, the syllabus, selection procedure, mode of examination was framed recently," said Jagirdar who is a lecturer at the Kalaburagi Government PU College For Girls. 

PE teachers & other staff

Education experts contend that there are no sports teachers anywhere in government colleges, as a result of which students lack proper sports training. They argued that students are being deprived of a sports quota that exists for admissions to medical and engineering colleges. 

The maintenance of government colleges is also a tough task as there is no provision to recruit peons and lab attenders.

Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa said that around 300 lecturers were recently promoted to the post of principals and another round of promotions will be undertaken soon.

"With regard to recruitment across all departments, the process is currently on hold due to the internal reservation issue," Madhu said. "Justice Nagamohan Das Committee has already submitted a report to the state government recently. The recruitment of PU college principals, lecturers and physical education teachers will commence without delay once the report receives approval."  

Quote - Justice Nagamohan Das Committee has already submitted a report to the state government recently. The recruitment of PU college principals lecturers and physical education teachers will commence without delay once the report receives approval - Madhu Bangarappa Minister for School Education and Literacy