Karnataka: 40% BEd colleges fit to be closed?

BANGALORE: As per a recommendation, at least 40 per cent of BEd colleges under Bangalore University (BU) have to be closed due to inadequate independent buildings, classrooms, libraries and computer centres. The recommendation is based on a survey conducted between December 2011 and February 2012 by Karan Kumar H, a member of the varsity’s Academic Council.Apart from infrastructure flaws, the survey recorded gross non-adherence to rules concerning the way academic programmes and admissions were conducted.“Some of the colleges have admitted ineligible candidates (those without a minimum of 50 per cent marks in graduation) to these courses. There is an irregular maintenance of admission register with improper records of students. Without attending required classes (minimum of 85 per cent attendance is mandatory), students are allowed to take examinations,” said Karan.Also, 80 per cent of the colleges are not conducting academic programmes according to procedures. After interactions with Local Inquiry Committees (LICs), it was found that neither the students nor the staff were present during the LIC’s visit. “It is an alarming situation. Is this how we prepare teachers who will teach in the rural areas? If this is the state of teacher education in the state, what becomes of rural India?” he questioned. When Karan raised this issue in the Academic Council meeting held on March 27, Vice-Chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev said that it would be discussed in the next session.He wrote to the Principal Secretary for Higher Educaton Siddaiah requesting his intervention in these matters. Siddaiah, however, was unavailable for comments.“A good teacher is the one who brings reforms. However, with bad faculty and absenteeism, the  quality of teachers’ education has gone down drastically,” said former BU V-C Dr N R Shetty.Currently, there are about 120 BEd Colleges affiliated to BU. All of them have the approval of the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) and have to adhere to its rules and regulations. About 10,000 candidates get admissions in these colleges every year.In the survey period, Karan collated information from seven experts, including Dr Sameer K Simha (retired lecturer), Dr R Nagarajaiah and Dr Gururaj Karajagi (Chairperson of Academy of Creative Teaching).