KSA asks whether 'community colleges' follow UGC guidelines
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 12 2020:
Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA) has asked whether Dhanamanjuri Community College and Churachandpur Community College are functioning according to guidelines for community colleges laid down by University Grants Commission (UGC).
KSA in a statement also questioned if these colleges have been turned into hotbeds of corruption in the name of providing skill based education to underprivileged students as these community colleges are 100 percent funded by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development.
The student body alleged that there is gross misgovernance in Dhanamanjuri Community College as one individual who has been transferred and posted as the Principal of Kakching Khunou College was at the same time named as its Nodal Officer as per an order issued on March 5, 2020 .
Such an appointment is against the regulation of UGC which clearly specified that community college should constitute a separate Board of Management (BoM) for its governance, said KSA.
KSA also cited that Commissioner (Higher and Technical Education), Government of Manipur, issued two orders regarding power and function of nodal officer on June 7 and June 9 in 2014 but the orders were annulled by a Government order on February 14, 2019 .
As per the orders issued on June 7 and June 9, it was mentioned that Nodal Officer should also hold the post of the Principal which was clearly against the UGC regulation, said KSA and decried how the Commissioner (Higher and Technical Education) could ignore UGC regulations.
Expressing suspicion of misuse of power and position and likely corrupt practices, KSA questioned why the Government took much time to make amends in the matter.
KSA went on to urge the Government to investigate the matter while demanding stringent punishment of those involved in case there were misconducts and corrupt activities.
Asking how a college Principal can be named as a Nodal Officer of Community College at the same time, KSA sought clarification from the State Government within 10 days and further warned that the Government should be responsible for any consequences.