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Journalism of Courage
A recent RTI reply by Mumbai University (MU) has revealed that a little over three per cent of the total number of colleges affiliated to it have permanent affiliation. These colleges, however, have been functioning normally and even awarding degrees to its students every year. An RTI reply by MU’s affiliation department dated January 20 states that of the total 770 colleges affiliated to MU, 746 do not have a permanent affiliation. While the data revealed in the same RTI reply shows that around 133 colleges have acquired temporary affiliation.
The data was revealed after an RTI query was filed by activist Ranbir Singh in December last year. Initially the administration refused to share the data. However, after a first appeal was filed, the affiliation department was directed to provide the information to Singh. The reply was provided to Singh on January 20.
The staggering data of colleges awaiting affiliation or its renewal was also detailed in a 2013 report of the state government’s senior audit officer that was availed under the RTI Act by another activist Vihar Durve. “The shocking thing that was revealed was that a college was granted affiliation even before any inspection was carried, while renewal of affiliation for many colleges was still pending,” said Durve, citing from the report.
The report also stated that delays were noticed in constituting the Local Inspection Committee (LIC), which is supposed to inspect colleges. Thus, the colleges were conducting courses/ programmes and even awarding degress to students without permanent affiliation, which is an important criterion for applying to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
The varsity takes factors such as infrastructure, teachers, library and administration, etc., into account for granting and renewing affiliation to colleges. A similar issue was raised by the Members of Mumbai University and College Teachers Association (MUCTA) in 2014. They had even written to the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Governor K Sankaranarayan alleging that although many of the colleges have been applying for affiliation, it is MU which has not been renewing them even after collecting affiliation fees. “We have learnt that colleges seeking affiliation have regularly applied to Mumbai University before October 30 every year and have also paid the stipulated fee,” said Vaibhav Narawade, secretary of MUCTA.
According to the RTI reply to Singh, only 437 of the 770 colleges have been inspected, still only 24 colleges managed to get permanent affiliation. “It is a blatant violation of Sections 86 and 87 of Maharashtra University Act 1994,” added Narawade. According to MUCTA in 2006-07, affiliation fee earned by MU amounted to Rs 2.72 crore and three years later in 2009-10, MU collected Rs 11.72 crore.
Activists and educationists claim the huge backlog in renewing affiliation indicates that colleges seeking affiliation failed to fulfill conditions for it. Affiliation is granted to colleges that are older than six years.
Durve added, “It is sad to note that a prestigious public institution like MU has become commercialised.”
A senior varsity official from MU’s affiliation department said, “Temporary affiliation was given to those institutions which could not comply with minor conditions, with instructions to comply with the requirements within the said academic year.”
Meanwhile, M A Khan, registrar of MU, said affiliations are granted to institutes and colleges only after the LIC committee is satisfied they have improved on the suggestions the community members gave them during their earlier visit. “There are certain criteria that we have to consider while granting extension of affiliation. If the LIC committee finds that the colleges are not fulfilling these criteria, either a temporary affiliation is granted or it is put on hold and the affiliation is not extended at all. Unless the colleges fulfill these criteria, permanent affiliation is not granted to them.”
dipti.singh@expressindia.com
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