'Give representation to teachers in academic council'

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, SEPT. 5. The Bangalore University Academic Council, meeting perhaps for the last time in its present structure, today urged the State Government to ensure adequate representation for teachers in affiliated colleges in the academic council proposed under the new universities Act. A majority of the members voiced their concern over the lack of adequate representation for teachers in it.

While the members, Mr. Vasudeva Murthy and Mr. Basavaraj, argued that the teachers could be represented by the deans and college principals, a majority of the members were concerned at the lack of a ``democratic spirit'' in the proposed Act. ``Principals and deans cannot represent the problems of teachers,'' a member said.

Some members saw in the now-passed university Bill an attempt to politicise the administrative bodies by usurping the place of teachers' representatives. Raising the issue, Mr. K.G. Lokesh said college principals were merely appointed as administrators by the Government and could not be considered as representatives of the teachers.

The council partially approved a proposal to make 75 per cent attendance in lectures, tutorials, seminars and practicals a mandatory condition for students to appear for university examinations. The proposal, based on a University Grants Commission letter, will now be modified with the incorporation of concessions for students absenting on sports, medical and other grounds.

Prof. R.L.M.Patil, drawing attention to irregular marking of attendance in university classrooms, wanted teachers to file attendance reports to department heads on a monthly basis. Another member wanted departments to notify the attendance position for the benefit of students at least thrice a year.

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr. K.Siddappa, said the university was in the process of computerising the examination section, which he hoped would help minimise human errors in mark cards and speed up the process of evaluation.

He was responding to the complaint by the member, Mr. Ananth Kumar, that the result of the B.Com. supplementary examination. Besides, the revaluation results were announced only a day ahead of the deadline for paying the supplementary examination fee, Mr. Kumar, told the Council.

The B.Sc biotechnology students, said another member, were suffering without a proper scheme of evaluating project reports. Even the Board of Studies Chairman was in the dark about the marks to be allotted for the reports, he said.

Ms. Prathiba, referring to the universities Bill, said the proposed penalisation of teachers guilty of examination irregularities with prison sentence was equating teachers with criminals.

Dr. Siddappa, however, came down heavily on this statement, even suggesting that imprisonment was not adequate for such ``anti- student'' attitudes. ``I will ask the Commissioner not to release salaries to teachers who do not come for valuation,'' he said.

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