Better deal for law colleges in the offing

Sources said,besides a common entrance test,the package will include a uniform syllabus,better library access,regularisation of and stress on full-time faculty,quality control and a proper monitoring system.

Although Higher Education Commissioner Jayanti Ravi could not be contacted despite several attempts,GNLU Vice-Chancellor Bimal Patel told The Indian Express that the package was just “awaiting a final nod”.

He also said the announcement “will happen very soon” as the officials were very enthusiastic about it.

Besides academics,the package will address administrative dimensions — making faculty appointments more stringent and arresting high drop-out rates. “The emphasis will be on full-time faculty,but part-time faculty would also be accommodated,” Patel said,adding that the package will follow BCI and UGC norms. Sources also said the credit-based system that the Higher Education Department had been mulling over for all courses would also,most likely,be included in the package. This would mean periodic tests,continuous assessments through assignments and more practical work.

The Indian Express had recently reported that three-year law colleges in the state were in a bad shape,especially in Ahmedabad,where no college had the requisite faculty strength,and some only had a single full-time staff.

The 28 three-year law colleges in Gujarat function under various universities.