Circulars spin chaos for BEd admissions

The NCTE, the apex body governing teachers’ training country-wide, recently granted recognition to two minority-run institutes in the city. But it has barred 100 per cent management quotas in these institutes and insisted that only half the seats in each institute can be reserved by the college. The other half is to filled via thecentralised admission procedure. However, the minority-run institutes in the city which have 100 per cent management quotas have refused to conform to the rules, saying that the matter is sub-judice.

That apart, six other minority institutions have an injunction from the Bombay High Court, permitting them to conduct admissions their way. Six other institutions have been allowed to conduct 50 per cent admissions in their own manner. In the rest of the 13 colleges, admissions are completely centralised, with the university allotting seats to students on merit. The university has also asked four institutions to suspend admissions, on grounds of inadequate facilities.

Even as the three categories of colleges grapple with the new circulars, the university is accusing the NCTE of being laidback’ and not granting recognition to colleges on time. Although the NCTE came into existence four years ago, the University of Mumbai has been noticeably reluctant in acknowledging its powers and guidelines. It took a courtorder to settle the dust over BEd part-time courses, which the university continued to conduct despite the NCTE derecognising them. Again, the circulars making NCTE recognition mandatory were issued only at the state government’s behest.

The circulars have got the hackles of minority-run institutions up. Said Mathews Chacko, principal of Pillai’s College of Education and Research, Chembur, “We got NCTE recognition two weeks ago, but the circular says 50 per cent admissions should be centralised.” This, he said, is unacceptable to his college, as the management has been granted a stay order permitting them to conduct admissions in the manner they want. “In any case, if we conduct 50 percent centralised admissions, it will be contempt of court,” Chacko told Express Newsline, adding that the NCTE cannot interfere as the matter is sub-judice. NCTE officials could not be contacted for comment.

And like the university, colleges too accused the NCTE of being slow in granting recognition. Dr Urmi Sampat,principal of the Hansraj Jivandas College of Education, Khar, said the college applied for NCTE recognition in February 1996, but three years down the line, there has been no response. Dr K T Bhatia, principal of Bombay Teachers’ Training College, Colaba, concurred, saying the college had applied for NCTE recognition in July 1997, with the same result.

Commented the university’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr Naresh Chandra, “Several colleges applied for recognition long back, but the NCTE team has not yet visited them.” A solution will be found so that colleges won’t have to suffer for no fault of theirs, he said, adding that the admission process will be started soon.