KC bytes more than it can chew

DECEMBER 28: KC College, Churchgate, has been offering BA students computer applications as a vocational subject for three years in contr...

DECEMBER 28: KC College, Churchgate, has been offering BA students computer applications as a vocational subject for three years in contravention of regulations of the University of Mumbai.

The college kicked off the computer applications course in 1996-7 under the University Grants Commission8217;s UGC Vocationalisation of Education8217; scheme. In April 1996, the UGC granted the college permission to start the course in any one of the three streams. And in June that year, a University of Mumbai circular stipulated that the vocational course could be started in any of the three streams. The university also recently later clarified that BA students should not be offered the course.

But KC started a common batch with students pooled in from all three streams 8211; BA, BCom and BSc 8211; due to a misinterpretation8217;, according to Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Naresh Chandra. This goof-up came to light this year. 8220;For the first two years, we didn8217;t know that the college was running the course, as internal exams are conductedthen. This year, as TYBA students are poised to take the university8217;s exams, we learnt that the college had introduced the course,8221; he said. KC College principal N A Bathija countered, 8220;We started the course after getting requisite permission from the university,8221; adding, however, 8220;We thought we had the necessary permission.8221; The principal also claimed that in 1996, the university gave the college the go-ahead to conduct the course at the BCom level and in the following year at BSc and BA levels as well. The university has refuted this.

In July this year, the college asked the university for a clarification on the combination of subjects that could be offered at FYBA for new entrants along with computer applications. When the college received no response after several reminders, it went ahead with the admissions. But on September 24, authorities received a letter from the registrar saying the course could not be started for arts students. University officials also told the college that it should havesought permission two years ago before admitting arts students into the course.

By this time, about 10 BA students and a total of 90 students had joined the course. According to Dr Chandra, the university is now trying to chalk out a compromise formula 8220;as the students should not suffer for no fault of theirs.8221; Vice-Chancellor Dr Snehalata Deshmukh told Express Newsline, 8220;We will work out a scheme by which the students can appear for the exams and the college authorities will be made aware of their mistake.8221; The matter has also come up before the Academic Council and the dean of faculty of arts has been asked to look into the matter.