Monday, Jun 22, 2009
Chennai: With the names of five colleges missing from the transfer list for teachers issued by Directorate of Collegiate Education, fears of them being turned into universities have resurfaced.

Last year, students and teachers had protested against the move to convert Presidency College, Queen Mary’s College, Coimbatore Government Arts College, Kumbakkonam Government Arts College for Men and Kumbakonam Government Arts College for Women, apart from two aided colleges into universities. The official reason behind this move was to provide the colleges more funds and to increase emphasis in research. But teachers protested and students too joined the protests until the Chief Minister intervened and a release was issued stating that no step detrimental to the students would be taken by the Higher Education Department. But teachers have a different story to tell. The five are classified as Grade I colleges, which means they have over 2,000 students each and certain post-graduate courses.

These colleges have been working with principals in charge for the last one year and this year too there has been a change in baton in the two colleges in the city. “Kumbakkonam Girl College is working with only 38 teachers. Is this the college they want to convert into a University,” questions Prof Palani, president Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association.

All the five colleges have a vacancy of over 350 teachers but the various recruitment drives has not touched these colleges. A teacher in Presidency College told Express the various funds given by the State Government had been left untouched and any proposal forwarded to the government was kept pending due to the impending conversion into universities.

Corroborating the information Prof Palani said: “Nearly Rs 3 crore was sanctioned as a special grant to the Queen Mary’s college but for various reasons the money remains untouched. Similarly, the over Rs 1 crore given to the Presidency College to maintain its Heritage building status too has been left untouched.”

When Education Minister Dr K Ponmudy was questioned about this reported proposal on Friday he said that he would not comment on the issue and would wait until June 23 to reveal proposals related to higher education. But teachers have already launched their protests and said they would not allow the colleges, to be converted into universities.