Kalyani, Nov. 6: A sheer negligence of its own to appoint a professor as a full time Director and four other permanent staff as asked by UGC compelled the Kalyani University authority to discontinue its distance learning courses from the ensuing academic session making the future uncertain for about 11000 students associated with 45 study centres across the state.
The discontinuation became effective from November 1, when the university celebrated it’s 58th foundation day, as the University failed to submit its online application for renewal of affiliation of the courses from UGC which includes mandatory submission of detail data of the permanent director and other four staff, which the university could not appoint in the last 11 years since courses were introduced.
As the University has been running its Distance learning wing with a contractual director not in the rank of professor, vice chancellor professor Sankar Kumar Ghosh decided not to submit the application on October 31, which was the last date for its submission.
With such decision, the 11000 students who were admitted in 2016-17 session for two years post graduate courses will no more be able to complete their courses.
At the same time, the students who have recently admitted for the ensuing 2018-19 academic sessions would also be in problem as they would now seek for refund of admission fees.
Kalyani University introduced distance learning courses in 2006. Since then it offers 2 years PG courses on English, Bengali, History, Education and Public Administration. From 2018-19 it planned to include MSc courses including 11 new subjects.
“There was no permanent staff in the DL wing of the university, which is a mandatory requirements as per UGC directives. So, I have decided to overcome the deficiencies first and to appeal for renewal later. We will seek time from the UGC so that regular staff could be appointed” – Prof. Sankar Kumar Ghosh, VC, KU
For continuation of UGC affiliation for the existing distance learning courses, the universities are required to apply for its renewal in every five years.
An officer of the university administration said: “The UGS alerted us in June 29 to overcome deficiencies before applying for renewal. In August the UGC posted the detail requirement for renewal in its website. But despite running the wing with totally by contractual staff including director, the vice chancellor never bothered to overcome these deficiencies rather appointed Arnab Maity as Director on on contract for one year.
Vice chancellor professor Ghosh said: “There was no permanent staff in the DL wing of the university, which is a mandatory requirements as per UGC directives. So, I have decided to overcome the deficiencies first and to appeal for renewal later”.
“We will seek time from the UGC so that regular staff could be appointed”, he added.
However, the vice chancellor said nothing about the fate of the 11000 students.
The decision of the vice chancellor angered the university teachers.
Senior professor and former head of History department professor Alok Ghosh said: “I am shocked and worried about the future of thousands of distant learners and staff of the DL wing. The University should take immediate steps and talk to UGC so that the courses are continued”