State refuses nod for extra divisions in colleges

The state government is not interested in expanding higher education resources. This year, it has refused to grant permission to any public university interested in starting additional divisions in their affiliated colleges.

An RTI application filed by activist Anil Galgali has revealed that the government turned down all applications for additional divisions. Put together, all 12 non-agricultural universities requested permission to have 306 additional divisions. Shivaji University , Kolhapur, had the most aggressive expansion plans and had sought permission to add 154 divisions.

In old streams like commerce, a division is made of 120 seats; in relatively newer ones like BMS, one division comprises 60 seats. In the city, several law and commerce colleges had lined up for extra divisions.After Shivaji University , Mumbai University was the next highest seeker of additional divisions at 62, but none were approved. “Several colleges wanted to start the new commerce subjects like transportation, but a new sweeping rule by the state has put all their plans on hold.  Many colleges had made necessary arrangement and were in the last stage of buying books and supplementary reading resources,“ said a varsity official.

For 2015-16, Pune's Savitribai Phule University demanded 30 additional divisions, Sant Gadgebaba University at Amravati sought 16 while North Maharashtra University of Jalgaon had also asked for the same number. Mumbai's SNDT University had asked for two extra divisions.

Besides, as per a government letter dated April 29, 2015, the government had decided to not have new universities, separate science wings, new subjects, change in study pattern and additional divisions for 2015-16.

“To reject such an important plea of granting additional divisions to universities is a major goof-up of the government,“ said Galgali. “It reduces public access to higher education and it could give undue advantage to some colleges and lead to malpractices.“

He has written to the chief minister, demanding the overturning of the government decision taken in this effect.

Source | Times of India | 18 October 2015