Arts College Turns 75

Mohammed Younus / Hyderabad : The architectural marvel represented by the Osmania University Arts College building -- designed by Belgian architect Monsieur Jasper – is still standing tall completing 75 years of glory. Considered the ‘Fort of Knowledge’ by many admirers, the Arts College started functioning on December 4, 1939, after the completion of its construction, which took nearly five years. 

Considered the ‘Fort of Knowledge’ by many admirers, the Arts College started functioning on Dec 4, 1939, after the completion of its construction, which took nearly five years. 

Archaeologist B Chenna Reddy says the Arts College is undoubtedly the symbol and face of Osmania University. He says, “While OU has been imparting education in various streams for a very long time the Arts College has been giving lessons of beauty of mind and integrity through its integrated structure.” The building was constructed by the seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan with an intention to provide higher education to students at par with global standards. It is one of the major heritage structures in Hyderabad. 

A team of experts travelled around the world to find the right design and the right person who could design this historic masterpiece. The building in pinkish granite stone represents a harmonious blend of pillars and lintel style of Ajanta and Ellora. It was earlier started with only few departments and several other departments were added over a period of time. Starting with the building of the Arts College, the university has received several honours and awards. It has won the Institution of Potential Excellence award, besides bagging the ‘A’ grade of the National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC) and several other research centres. 

The building is listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO and the diamond jubilee of the college building was celebrated in December 1999. Archaeology expert Abdul Qayyum says that the structure of the building itself imparts knowledge of integrity and unity to students, teachers, governments and all those who come to see it. He says that Arts College is the best symbol of unity among different communities and cultures. He adds, “The first floor of the building represents the Indian Architecture (Ellora like Pillars), the second floor represents the Islamic architecture and the entrance represents the Gothic architecture.” 

Qayyum further says that Mir Osman Ali Khan had built a fort like structure for the benefit of common people encompassing the shadows of all cultures of India. Youngsters shaped by the college over the years have turned out to be equally outstanding in their chosen spheres and the majestic building never fails to evoke nostalgia among the people who had passed through this portal of knowledge. Though the university has come a long way to reach this stage, several students are wary of the lack of research activity in the varsity. They also mourn the neglect for the subjects of Arts by university authorities.

Evading Inspection !

Mohammed Younus / Hyderabad : Several engineering colleges, found with poor infrastructure by the task force, have closed their doors to the inspection of Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University officials, with a fear of losing opportunity of admitting the students. This created apprehensions among the students who were pursuing their academic activities in them as the managements closed the campuses. Students who are keen on using the second phase of admissions are also apprehensive of this move.

-Around 170 such colleges with poor infrastructure and academic amenities were not allowed to participate in the first phase of EAMCET counseling and these managements had to knock the doors of High Court and Supreme Court for getting permission to participate in counseling
-The fresh round of inspection commenced on November 26 and it is being carried out n the private engineering colleges, listed under ‘Poor Performers’ category 

The fresh round of inspection commenced on November 26 and it is being carried out in the private engineering colleges, listed under ‘Poor Performers’ category for not having proper infrastructure. According to the JNTUH officials, the inspections were being conducted as per the orders of Supreme Court and a report would be prepared very soon. The University officials informed that several colleges kept their campuses closed during the inspection period and inspection teams could not enter them. Academic audit cell officials from the University informed that after this inspection, a comprehensive report would be prepared and submitted to the Supreme Court.

Around 170 such colleges with poor infrastructure and academic amenities were not allowed to participate in the first phase of EAMCET counseling and these managements had to knock the doors High Court and Supreme Court for getting permission to participate in counseling. The first phase was already done by the time they got the permission and de listed colleges were deprived of admissions. Again the managements had to approach apex court for conducting second phase of counseling. Supreme Court in the past had asked the JNTUH to submit a report on the infrastructure of these colleges and compliance with AICTE norms and also advised the students to be careful while selecting them.

It also told to the students that their admission into such colleges would be provisional until the report of inspection is submitted to the apex court. On the other hand, the Telangana Engineering and Professional College Managements Association chairman N Gautham Rao said that managements were not feared about inspection. He said that students need not worry about their future in these colleges as there are hopes that JNTUH and AICTE would give some more time to resurrect their shortcomings. The inspection would go on for one more week and a report would be prepared.

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Escalated Episode of Exams

Metro News / Hyderabad : The stalemate over the conduct of Intermediate Public Examination (IPE) continues as both the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments are adamant over the respective stands. Even the intervention of Governor ESL Narasimhan could not break the ice and it seems the ball is now in the Central government’s court. At one hand, the Andhra Pradesh State government is of the opinion that it has the right to hold the examination common for students of both the States as the Board of Intermediate (BIE) is listed under 9th schedule.

On the other hand, seeking separate exams the Telangana government said that it would protect the spirit of Reorganization Act as spoken about common admissions and not common examination. Unable to come to any conclusion, the AP government complained to the Governor who summoned Telangana government and advised both the governments to solve the issue keeping in view the interests of students. But both the governments failed to reach to any amicable solution keeping the students in confusion. Telangana Education Minister G Jagadish Reddy said, “We will not change our stand of conducting separate examination for our students even if the Governor complains to the Centre.”

He said that the government’s stand was in compliance with the Reorganisation Act and alleged that the AP government was creating unnecessary controversy over it. He said that BIE belongs to Telangana as it was mentioned in the Act and if AP needs any help, the TS government will help them to conduct exams for their students. Both the governments have already released their dates of examination in the month of March but uncertainty looms following the rift between the two governments.

Now that the Governor is in Delhi, intermediate students are expecting solution either way so that at least they can sit in the examination in time as most of the competitive examinations fall in the month of May or June. A senior intermediate student S Kiran Kumar Raju said that if there was a delay in the conduct of examination then students will be at loss, who are preparing for several competitive examinations.

We will not change our stand of conducting separate examination for our students even if the Governor complains to the Centre 

'Blocked' Money !

As much as Rs 53.62 crore is lying unspent for about six years in the account of the Commissioner and Director of School Education which has been accumulated from examination fee and other resources. However, violating the rules, the department has utilised Rs 2.45 crore to meet the departmental expenditure. These facts have come to light in the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report that has been tabled in the Assembly. 

It was found that rules were violated in expending the money collected under the head of examination fee and the amount was used inappropriately without submitting it to the government treasury. CAG during the audit found that convenors, who are responsible for maintenance of proper books of account of receipts and expenditure in respect of each examination, were not complying with the rule book during the examinations conducted from 2008-09 and 2012-13. 

Contrary to the norms, the State government issued orders allowing the Commissioner to meet expenditure on conducting APTET from the revenue earned through the sale of applications and exam fee collected from applicants, instead of remitting the amount into government account. The government did not issue any guidelines for the utilisation of these funds. As per the CAG report, the Commissioner has collected Rs 89.48 crore from applicants towards examination fee of DSC, APTET, DIETCET and LPCET during the year 2008 and 2013 and spent Rs 35.86 crore for conducting these examinations. 

It was also revealed that the School Education Commissioner has retained an amount of Rs 53.62 crore in the department’s account even after the completion of events pertaining to some of the respective examinations. This also included advances of Rs 11.02 crore given to District Education Officers, which was pending adjustment for one to four years reportedly due to lack of pursuance by the commissioner.

Changes underway

Mohammed Younus / hyderabad : The possible changes in the pattern of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) would surely help the Telugu students in securing good ranks and possibly break the barriers for South Indian students altogether. Students from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other southern states were agitating against the new pattern of examination in Preliminary examination of UPSC which was introduced in the year 2011.

With an intention to seek the views of all party leaders Central government has recently convened a meeting with leaders of all the opposition parties to come to an amicable solution on this issue. The aggrieved students claim that the second paper of the CSAT, which tests among other things, logical reasoning, analytical ability, basic numeracy and English language comprehension, puts rural students and those from non-English medium school background, at a disadvantage.

Terming it a sensitive issue the Centre wanted to include the views of all political parties and come to a solution. It was decided that all the party leaders would give their opinion on five issues related to CSAT exam including on continuation of English language comprehension skill, reduced weightage of analytical component, to make paper-II qualifying criteria and to revert back to optional paper. 

Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) would prepare a comprehensive report on the structure and pattern of the civil services examinations, held for several years in the country and changes made over a period of time in a day or two and would provide it to all the party leaders. Students and educationists from Telugu speaking and southern states were against the present pattern alleging that it was creating North-South or Urban-Rural divide amongst the students.

A civil aspirant from the state M Ajay Kumar said that hundreds of students were deprived of getting into the competition at the very initial stage in preliminary examinations by virtue of CSAT. He said, “If Centre was of the opinion to make the changes in the pattern, it should weed out the CSAT completely or else it should be amended in such a way that all the students could be able to attempt it.”

During the recently held preliminary examinations only 535 students from AP and TS have qualified out of 29,500 attempted. The decline in the number of students qualifying from these states was witnessed ever since the new pattern was introduced. Anyhow, the Centre’s stance to seek the opinion from all party leaders may yield some solution to this problem which was reportedly creating disparities among urban and rural students and was criticized by the experts and educationists.

No staff No funds, JNAFAU Sulks

Mohammed Younus / Hyderabad : Lack of staff and other necessary requisites in the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU) has led to holding back of the status of 12 (B) to the varsity by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and also denial of funds for the research and development. UGC gives the 12 (B) status to the universities for their development on the condition of fulfilling some requisites. 

UGC gives the 12 (B) statusto the universities for their development on the condition of fulfilling some requisites. According to the norms, each department should have one professor, an associate professor and two assistant professors. Ironically, none of the five departments in the varsity have been provided with such staff.

Despite several representations being made by the university staff, the present in charge vice chancellor was not recruiting the required staff for no reasons. University has 2 (F) status allowing it to have recognition. According to the norms, each department should have one professor, an associate professor and two assistant professors. Ironically, none of the five departments in the varsity have been provided with such staff. Telangana Teachers Welfare Association president S Pradeep Kumar said that due to lack of 12 (B) status, National Assessment and Accreditation Committee (NAAC) has not visited the campus from the inception.

He also said that lack of 12 (B) status has brought down the value of certificates being given to the students. He alleged that no audit was been conducted on the accounts of the university since it would lead to the inspection of financial matters of the institution. He said that this was one of the reasons for not taking up the recruitment. The fine arts college used to be an affiliate to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University and it was made university itself few years back and this has led to no control on the affairs of the institution. 

Other staff members said that several complaints have been lodged with Lokayukta against the in charge VC JNAFAU Non-Teaching Association secretary K Mahipal Reddy said that teachers are being recruited on contract basis rather than through the well laid rules. He said, “Around 80 contract employees have been appointed in the architecture and planning department of the varsity flouting the norms.” The professors in the varsity demanded to focus on the activities going on in the campus as it was incurring heavy monetary and academic losses.

-Established in the year 2008 by state act separating it from JNTUH
-Only 2(F) status from UGC has been conferred
-Five major departments were sanctioned along with other self-finance courses
-Teaching staff in all the departments is inadequate 
-Varsity was instructed to recruit the required staff in all departments
-UGC has not conferred 12 (B) status, owing to laxity in recruitment
-No funds have been released from UGC till date for research and academic purposes
-The University has not been accredited by NAAC so far
-Certificates of the students would not be considered authentic in future
-Vice Chancellor reportedly not taking up recruitment only to save her vested interests
-Research activities are absent due to lack of funds

Uncertain DSC in TS !

Mohammed Younus / Hyderabad : Uncertainty is looming large over the issuing of DSC (District Selection Committee) notification for the recruitment of teaching posts in Telangana State as the government officials do not even have the information regarding the vacant posts in various districts. The Andhra Pradesh government has already released DSC notification recently.

The Telangana government does not even have any plan to release the notification in near future. Earlier, the State government announced to rationalize schools and staff instead of appointing new teaching staff through DSC. However, the government went back on the proposal after an adverse reaction from the Teachers fraternity and aspirant students from across the state. The government’s version about appointments at government run schools was that most of the schools were running without students and there was no need of further recruitment.

When the dust settled after much hue and cry over the proposed rationalization of government schools and teachers, which could have resulted in the closure of several hundred schools, the government has not given any instructions to appoint the teaching staff yet. Telangana School Education department Joint Director P V Srihari said that they have not received any instruction from the concerned ministry and no preparations were being underway for the release of DSC notification in the state. He said, “We don’t even have the information that how many seats are vacant in the state run schools.” 

Previously DSC notification was used to be issued in the year 2012 and after that because of various reasons the practice was not being followed. Thousands of Teacher’s Eligibility Test (TET) qualified candidates have been waiting for the recruitment notification in the State. On the other hand teachers’ unions re crying foul over the delay in the release of recruitment notification. These unions have also proposed an amicable solution to the state government’s proposal of rationalization.

Telangana State United Teachers’ Federation state president A Narsi Reddy said that around 1,500 seats are vacant in the government run schools across the state. He said, “We have suggested the state government to set up ‘Model Primary Schools’ in the rural areas covering several villages besides implementing rationalization in such a way that spare teachers could be shifted to these centres and new teachers could be recruited through DSC.”