Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 13: To discuss the implementation of the semester system at Undergraduate level from the next session as per the guidelines set by the University Grants Commission, a meeting of Deans, Heads of the Teaching Departments and Principals of the Affiliated Colleges of the University was held today under the chairmanship of Jammu University Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar.
Talking about the problems that they would face under the proposed semester system, the College Principals pointed out that 60 percent teachers are appointed on contractual basis. Furthermore their appointments were often delayed sometimes as much by four months and under such circumstances it would not be possible to run semester based system unless permanent faculty positions are provided, they explained.
Besides that the huge gap between the declaration of results by JKBOSE and CBSE led to the delay in the admissions process resulting in the late commencement of the academic session, they added and said that these problems would be more acute under the proposed semester system.
The meeting also deliberated upon the various issues pertaining to the appointment of staff, infrastructure, conduct of examinations, admissions etc in the affiliated colleges. The Principals also highlighted the problems being faced by the colleges especially by those colleges falling under winter zone. The Principals of these colleges informed the Vice-Chancellor that due to extreme cold conditions the colleges remain closed for three months due to which they get less time for the completion of syllabus.
They requested Prof Ishar to take up the matter with the Minister for Higher Education so that the problems of infrastructure, lack of staff etc could be redressed.
The VC opined that the problems so identified were not the problem of the semester system but that of Higher Education in the State in general. He further assured that these matters would be taken up with the higher authorities in the due course of time. Professor Desh Bandhu, Director Colleges Development and Prof JPS Joorel, president JUTA, also pointed out that the problems identified are solvable. Prof Dipankar Sengupta pointed out that to implement the semester system there should be coordination between the University, colleges as well as the State Government.
The overall general consensus was that while the semester system should be implemented, a committee be constituted to examine the steps needed to be taken to implement it at the UG level from 2014 onwards.
Others present in the meeting were Prof Kulwant Kour Dean Research Studies, Prof Neelam Saraf, Dean Academic Affairs and Prof Keshav Sharma, Controller of Examination.
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