University of Mumbai’s decision to change the pattern of the B. Com course is expected to lead to shortage of faculty in aided colleges for a year.
University of Mumbai’s decision to change the pattern of the B. Com course is expected to lead to shortage of faculty in aided colleges for a year. While colleges say they will not be in a position to bear the salary to be paid to the extra faculty who will be needed for a year, the university has said a solution will have to be worked out wherein all stakeholders will have to work out a compromise in the larger interests of the student community.
According to a senior commerce faculty member, the university announced a change in the pattern of the commerce programme during a workshop held recently, wherein a rejig of the 20 courses being taught in the three-year degree programme would be made.
“Previously, the 20 courses were distributed in the form of seven courses in the first year, six in the second year and seven in the third year. However, with the government stressing on the need for practical work in the final year, it was decided to reduce one course from the third year and transfer it to the second year. While the process has been implemented from this year, there will be a problem next year as both the second year and third year will have seven courses. This will require an additional faculty and colleges offering grant-in-aid courses will be affected by it as they will not be able to hire one or two faculty just for a year,” the faculty member explained.
Dr V.N. Magre, principal of Kirti College, concurred with the views of the faculty and said, “The government has stopped approval of faculty in aided courses and hence the burden of extra lectures would fall on existing faculties or a temporary faculty would have to be hired. But the college managements would be expected to pay the salaries, which may not be acceptable to them,” said Dr Magre.
Dr M.A. Farouqui, principal of Rizvi College of Arts and Science, agreed with Dr Magre and said as per the rules the existing faculty could not be coerced to take additional lectures.
“The current faculty is completing the 20 active lectures norm per week. Now if they are asked to take additional lectures they will rightfully ask for compensation neither the university nor the government has clarified where or how it would be paid. Hence the one year problem needs to be resolved well before the situation arises or else students will suffer,” said Dr Farouqui.
Dr M.A. Khan, registrar, MU, said, “The university is aware of the problem and will try to work out a solution before it manifests itself.”
