Maharashtra Govt’s ‘no new college’ norm creates confusion

By Vikas Vaidya

Some things never change and this is truly applicable for our slow moving system and its notorious bureaucracy which ensures that every good initiative seldom leads to its desired result. The decision of Maharashtra Government not to allow any new college during current academic year, based on empirical evidence of large number of vacant seats in every stream during last some years, was formalised only two days before the last date of submitting final proposal by respective universities. Ironically, all universities received this circular, after the last date is over. Now, all stakeholders are in confusion and uncertain about proposal and actual implementation of decision.
The order dated April 28 has clearly ruled out any new college, faculty, courses or additional seats for this academic year in a move to set right the higher education opportunities in state.
The Government order states, "In higher education, balance is required in terms of opportunities for students in different parts of the state such as — city, rural, tribal, naxalite and hill areas. However, in the last academic year, thousands of seats remained vacant. Yet, new approval requests came from the very localities with vacancies, thereby causing an imbalance of higher education opportunities across state. Hence, Government has decided that no new approvals would be given this academic year (2015-16). Universities should instead submit revised perspective plans within the next three months for the government to give approval after proper study."
Dr Shrikant Komawar, Director of Board of College and Universities Development (BCUD) of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) expressed surprise over this circular. He said, “The proposals of the new colleges, new courses, new sections go through proper scrutiny which begins in October. Accordingly, our university, too, completed the procedure and submitted the proposal in last week of April, 2015 which are supposed to be submitted by April 30. Though the circular was issued on April 28, the university did get the same after the last date of submission.” RTMNU authorities are in a fix and are clueless about dealing with this important matter.
For the previous academic year, applications for approvals had come from colleges, and ultimately these colleges witnessed dwindling numbers and over 25 per cent vacant seats.
Each year, universities are individually expected to create a blueprint, keeping in mind the existing higher education opportunities, requirements in different faculties, the number of students and the demand for different courses. Based on that, approvals are given to new colleges, courses, faculties and additional seats. The new government seems to have decided to actively participate in making of perspective plans this time, before giving them the nod. Dr Komawar said, “After every five year, with the additions of amendments new perspective plan is prepared. Our perspective plan has completed two years. But the Government has asked us to put certain necessary changes to have transparency and proper system.”
Considering the ever increasing number of colleges, a proper study of requirements and opportunities is indeed important to strike a balance.

Engineering Colleges troubled by large vacant seats

Following large number of vacancies in engineering colleges, the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had constituted committee under the Chairmanship of Dr G D Yadav, Director of Chemical Institute to find out the reasons behind such a large number of vacant seats. The committee in its detailed report had recommended that no new college should be permitted. It is speculated that present State Government might have acted on the recommendations of Dr Yadav committee. The State had registered over 65,000 vacant seats in engineering faculty alone. This year with the decision not to go ahead with new colleges, number of vacant seats may come down. Nagpur region had witnessed some 9,000 seats vacant last year, mostly in new colleges while there was rush for admission in premier and reputed colleges.