| Academic
Concern
Educational institutions very seldom make news. Even if they do they bring good news of some academic excellence or achievements. But the State's only university is an exception. The Manipur University is always in the news for all the wrong reasons. Students, whose classes have been severely affected, are now reportedly gearing up to lock up some departments and even the administrative block, to air their grievances. Since the authorities are not ready to listen to their grievances and redress them, no alternative is apparently left with the students.
Experience tells us that the authorities will stir only when there is a violent agitation. Right now 29 teaching costs are lying vacant in the 22 departments of the university. Naturally, staff shortage has hampered the academic pursuit of the students. The Academic calendar is also being rendered meaningless. And the State Government is blamed for this.
Apart from the shortage of teaching staff, it is alleged that the State Government is refusing to open a faculty for South East Asian Studies, which has been reportedly approved by the UGC. The fear is that should the State Government refuse to budge its stand, the UGC may drop the whole proposal for good.
The rigid stance taken by the authority defies all logic. Last year the entire teaching community was up in arms against the VC, holding him fully responsible for the rot in the university. The agitating teachers had demanded resignation of the VC and the teachers had been pacified only when an inquiry has been ordered.
The report of the inquiry was to be submitted within a specified period of time. Now only the teachers and inquiry committee must be knowing what has happened to the inquiry. For the students little has changed after the teachers' strike and the initiation of the inquiry. Those teachers, who were crying for the VC's blood, are also saying little about the whole affair. This does not augur well for the general well being of the university and the students.
A university is expected to be a temple of learning, where students get academic knowledge and develop their overall personality. When the university authorities are so hell bent in smelling fragrance from a rotten rose, the students are done for. It is the pristine responsibility of the university authorities to ensure availability of adequate teaching staff in the university. Otherwise, students will continue the trend of leaving the State and pursue higher studies outside the State.
Though the present fiscal condition of the Government is well acknowledged by one and all, it's apprehensions in funding the university will in the end prove to be counter-productive as crores of rupees will be scooped away by the ''fleeing" students. This is one aspect where both the Government and the university authorities need to pay great attention. The Government should not forget that Manipur University was established on the lines of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. But the performances of the two universities need no further comparison.
(Courtesy: The
Sangai Express)
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