Govt. CTE forced to accommodate PU college

Students of the Government College of Teacher Education in Mangaluru have expressed concern over allowing Government PU College to function from its premises.

Over 200 B.Ed students at Government College of Teacher Education (CTE) – one of the six government CTEs in the State – are already facing a classroom shortage, and are now being made to give up two more classrooms to Government Pre-University College that moved to the CTE premises last year.

These meritorious students from different parts of the State are at their wits’ end over the proposed diversion of the classrooms in addition to the two already allotted to the PU College.

“We ourselves are facing problems as some of our classes are conducted in the professors’ cabins, hostel room, library and auditorium. Allowing other institutes on the CTE premises is in violation of National Council of Teacher Education norms,” said Kiran Gadkar, a 2nd year B.Ed student from Jamkhandi.

His classmate Siddappa, from Kalaburagi, said that he, like many others, strove hard to enter Mangaluru CTE, known for quality education at affordable cost. “We’ve compromised on infrastructure woes for quality education; we can’t allow further deterioration,” he said.

Following a decline in students’ numbers at Government PU College, Bokkapatna, the PUE Department approved the Mangaluru South MLA J.R. Lobo’s proposal and shifted the college to the 1.14-acre premises of CTE last yearn despite opposition from the CTE principal.

Two rooms of the Government Practising High School on the CTE premises were allotted to 30 students of the PU College. With the PU college strength is set to increase to 45 this year, the college management has sought two more rooms till they build new rooms above the existing ones.

PU College Betterment Committee chairman and incumbent MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath, during his recent visit, was informed about NCTE norms barring other institutes functioning from the CTE premises. NCTE may order CTE’s closure, he was told.

Yet, Mr. Kamath told The Hindu the government had allowed the PU college and a secondary school to function from the CTE premises knowing NCTE norms. His immediate concern was to arrange classrooms for PU students and prevent its likely closure.

The staff and students of CTE said pressure will increase in June when a new batch of 100 students join. “The government and Mr. Kamath should protect the sanctity of CTE, the lone one for Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts,” said Ajay Kanasanali, a 2nd year B.Ed student.