The Hindu : Karnataka / Mangalore News : Principals seek greater autonomy for colleges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 25, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mangalore

Principals seek greater autonomy for colleges

Staff Correspondent

`Institutions hamstrung by syllabus set by universities'

MANGALORE: It is imperative for those concerned to give greater functional autonomy for educational institutions to help churn out "employable" students, N. Vinay Hegde, former Chairman, Board of Governors, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Suratkal, has said.

Only this will help institutions meet norms laid down by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, he noted.

Honouring principals on the verge of superannuation at a function organised by the Association of First Grade College Principals of Mangalore University here on Sunday, Mr. Hegde, Chairman of Nitte Education Institutions, said all institutions are hamstrung by syllabus thrust on them by respective jurisdictional universities. This should change, he said.

Referring to comment made by peer team of NAAC about a programme in engineering offered by his institution as being "sub-standard" and that the institution should go beyond the prescribed syllabus, he said the academic calendar prescribed by the university is so tight that it leaves little scope for innovation. Welcoming the suggestion, he said it should also entail greater flexibility for institutions concerned. "While institutions are expected to cover the syllabus for particular semester, they are also expected to make value additions the teaching-learning process and bring out a product which is employable. All this needs lot of introspection on part of all concerned," he said.

Stressing on the need to ensure that the education process takes individuals beyond merely handing them degrees, he said this is possible when academicians are permitted to decide on educational agenda in policy making bodies such as Syndicates and Academic Councils in higher centres of learning.

Expressing concern over trained human resource opting to stay away from academics, he suggested that the greenhorns should be trained before being allowed to handle classes.

Earlier, Mr. Hegde felicitated Gilbert Sequeira, K.V. Rao and U. S. Aithal, principals of St. Aloysius Evening College, Govindadasa College and Bhandarkars College respectively who are on the verge of retirement. Olivia, former principal, St. Agnes College, spoke on "Role and responsibilities of principals - post NAAC period." Office bearers of the association were present.

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