M A I N   N E W S

Colleges to be reallocated
Hike in charges postponed
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 18
While the issue of enhancing various charges, including the tuition fee, in government colleges in Punjab has been deferred indefinitely, the State Council of Higher Education has, in principle, accepted the recommendations of the committee on the redemarcation of the jurisdiction of the universities.

Informed official sources said there would be no increase in the tuition fee and other charges in government colleges. As the elections to the state Assembly are scheduled to be held within the next seven months, the government authorities concerned, perhaps, bearing this in mind decided to keep this sensitive issue in cold storage for an indefinite period.

The government had constituted a committee for this purpose long ago with the objective of improving the financial condition of government colleges, which have been facing an acute fiscal crisis. The committee, which submitted its report to the government a few months ago, recommended uniformity in the tuition fee in the government colleges under all universities, pegging it at Rs 65 per month which is at present, charged by government colleges falling within the jurisdiction of Panjab University.

It is Rs 32 per month in the government colleges affiliated to Punjabi University and Rs 35 in those under GND University. The committee had also proposed a revision in the other charges in government colleges to bring these on a par with those prevalent in private colleges.

The sources said the council also accepted the report of the committee headed by the Vice-Chancellor, Mr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, regarding the reallocation of colleges to various universities. However, a minor change pertaining to Moga district had been made while accepting the recommendation by the council. All colleges within the revenue boundaries of Ropar and Nawanshahr districts would be transferred to Panjab University because of the proximity factor. At present all colleges in Ropar district are affiliated to Punjabi University. Colleges falling in Moga and Muktsar districts would be transferred to Punjabi University. Earlier, these were with Panjab University. Colleges falling within the jurisdiction of Ferozepore district would go to GND University.

The sources said the committee had recommended that colleges in Moga district should be retained by Panjab University. However, the Punjabi University authorities insisted that colleges in that district should be transferred to them for maintaining the balance in the reallocation of institutions.

Though the council has accepted the recommendations, the final decision in this connection will be taken by the Council of Ministers. Only after the approval of this council will the authorities concerned be able to issue a notification redemarcating the jurisdictions of the universities in the state.

The sources said though the education council took some vital decisions, its meeting was poorly attended. All senior bureaucrats except the Education Secretary, Mr G.S. Sahi, stayed away from the meeting. No representative of Panjab University was present. Even most of the Vice-Chancellors and the Deans (Colleges) of the universities preferred to ignore the meeting of such an important body.

When contacted, Mr Mohan Lal, Minister for Education, talking about the other decisions taken at the meeting of the council, said a committee for improving the standard of education in colleges and universities had been set up under the chairmanship of Dr H.S. Guram, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Technical University. He said the committee had been told to submit its recommendations within one month.

It has also been told to submit recommendations on ensuring 180 teaching days in the universities and colleges. In the last academic session the maximum number of teaching days in certain colleges was nearly 130 while in the government colleges it was nearly 120.

Mr Mohan Lal said another committee had been set up under the chairmanship of the DPI (Colleges), Mr Gulzar Singh, to frame rules and regulations for spending the funds collected by the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in various colleges.

The universities had also been told to ensure the starting of the new academic session from July 17. The government would take serious note if the results of degree classes were unnecessarily delayed in any university. A letter has also been written to the Vice-Chancellors concerned in this connection, it is learnt.

The council accepted the UGC’s proposal to allow one UGC observer on the selection panel while holding interviews to appoint Readers or Professors in the universities. Punjabi University has opposed this measure, according to informed sources. However, the council has stated that this proposal of the UGC should be implemented.

The Vice-Chancellors have been told to conduct inspections of the colleges within their respective jurisdictions on a regular basis. Senior bureaucrats in the Education Department have also been told to undertake such inspections.

Proposed allocation

Colleges in Moga and Muktsar districts — Punjabi University

Colleges in Ferozepore district— GND University

Colleges in Ropar and Nawanshahr districts— Panjab University.