Varsity to withdraw circular

PUNE, JUNE 13: The University of Pune UoP is to withdraw its recent circular which restrains commerce colleges from offering more than ...

PUNE, JUNE 13: The University of Pune UoP is to withdraw its recent circular which restrains commerce colleges from offering more than two optional subjects per division for the new course.

Alongwith implementation of the new course structure from June this year, the varsity had asked colleges to offer optional subjects based on the number of divisions. However, this circular was in contrast to the government resolution which says colleges can offer optional subjects with a minimum of 24 students.

The new syllabus has a total of six optional subjects. Given the fact that each division has a maximum of 100 students, at least three optional subjects can be offered for one single division, according to rules.

A fresh circular cancelling the previous circular numbered 115, is likely to be issued by the varsity in the next two days, highly placed sources told The Indian Express.

A large cross-section of teachers and their unions, Pune University Teachers8217; Association and Pune University and College Teachers8217; Organisation, had expressed their strong resentment over the circular stating that it would increase their workload.

Meanwhile, the new course is getting into trouble. First, it was the lack of consensus among colleges and the academic circles for implementation. Now, old skeletons are tumbling out of varsity cupboards.

The new course has been implemented by the varsity even as files of the previous one introduced in 1990, are gathering dust at the education department in the Mantrayala for approval. In the meanwhile, commerce colleges continue to receive government grants on the basis of subjects and work force up to 1989.

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Last year, the university had appointed a two-member committee comprising A P Kulkarni and B T Batule to review the restructuring of 1990 commerce course.

The committee submitted its report to the director of higher education in January this year. Stating that the work force of teachers had increased by 17 per cent since the course was implemented in 1990, the committee recommended 79 fresh appointments in UoP.

quot;The proposal was forwarded to the State Government in April,8221; said Kulkarni. Implementation of this proposal will cost the State an additional burden of Rs 2 crore which the government may not want to keep, he said.