Gujarat University sanctions additional section in science colleges

Gujarat University (GU) has decided to allow science colleges affiliated to it to have an extra division each run on self-financed basis. The university took this decision after the managements of the colleges refused to admit more than 150 students per division. It may be recalled that last year GU had forced these colleges to admit 200 students per division. The college managements had agreed to admit more students only after the state government promised to give them teaching staff on ad hoc basis. However, even after one year, the government is yet to sanction any ad hoc staff. Hence during a meeting with GU vice-chancellor, the college authorities refused to admit more than 150 students per division. Last year, principals and managements of the science colleges had objected to GU’s decision to increase student capacity per division from 150 to 200, citing shortage of teaching staff and infrastructure facilities. The college authorities had then met education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma and made representations after which the government decided to sanction additional staff on ad hoc basis. The principal of a science college said that despite several representations and reminders sent last year, neither GU nor the state government sanction any extra teaching staff. “Hence during the meeting this time, we made it clear that we would not admit additional students,” said the principal. GU vice-chancellor M N Patel said that this year about 1.17 lakh students have appeared in the board exams and, from past experience, the university feels it would need more classes to accommodate all the students. “We have decided that the existing colleges will be given additional classes on self-financed basis. These classes will have to be run in another shift and on the same premises,” said Patel. GU officials said these colleges can charge fees ranging from Rs 8,000 to Rs 22,000. Source: Education News