Govt scraps move on class strength

MUMBAI, MAY 13: The state government has issued a letter this week to the University of Mumbai asking it to refrain from implementing its...

MUMBAI, MAY 13: The state government has issued a letter this week to the University of Mumbai asking it to refrain from implementing its notification of admitting hundred students per division in the first year degree college of BA, BSc and BCom. Instead, they should issue clarification to all colleges to this effect, according to the minister of state for education, Anil Deshmukh.

The University of Mumbai in a circular dated January 7, 1999 asked its affiliated colleges to restrict admissions to hundred students per division in the first year degree colleges of arts, science and commerce. The college representatives immediately petitioned before education departments as all this time they were admitting more than hundred students with necessary permission from the university, they maintain.

Also the June 19, 1995 government resolution GR on the basis of which admission was expected to be done in the colleges also ensure 121 students in the first division provided there is a second division and allthese subsequent divisions will have hundred students. Which means unlike the varsity circular, the GR states that more than hundred students can atleast be admitted in the first division.

The minister of state for education, Anil Deshmukh told Express Newsline that varsity has never bothered to consult with the state government before issuing the circular. 8220;We in a letter dated May 11 has asked the varsity not to implement the circular as it may violate the provisions of the GR and also involves additional financial burden. Further, if colleges need to increase the division, they should submit a proposal to the state government8221;, he maintained.

The registrar of the varsity, Dr P V Pradhan maintained that varsity has just received the letter, but he is yet to go through the contents of it. However he maintained that varsity was only following the GR which states hundred students in subsequent divisions.

The Pro Vice Chancellor of the varsity, Dr Naresh Chandra explained that there might besome miscommunication in its earlier circular which categorically maintained hundred per division rather than maintaining it for subsequent divisions.

Dr Pradhan maintained that varsity will adhere strictly to hundred students in subsequent divisions as it has received several representations from the teachers and students complaining about the unmanangeable number of students which even rises to as high as 125. As for colleges claiming that they have permission for higher number of students, he maintained that he does not feel so. However he clarified that he has to check the claims.

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Dr Pradhan maintained that the implementation of internal assessment and insistence of 75 per cent attendance since 1996-97 has made the varsity deliberate over the admission issue in its Academic Council meeting and subsequently it came upon with the January circular. The students also complained that they do not have enough seats in the class.