JAMMU: These days Padma Shree Sachdev government PG College for Women commonly known as GCW, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, is abuzz with scores of activities for third cycle of evaluation by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
Eyeing for laudable ranking, the college authorities with intense focus on cosmetic face-lifting has also undertaken a mock pre NAAC drill, a move dubbed by several faculty members as irrelevant, futile and misuse of funds. How far the superficial look and undesired activities would help in fetching desired ranking when the institution allegedly have dismal performance in term of 7 parameters framed by NAAC, questioned one gent considered close to the chair of Principal.
“Quality status of a college is bound to be evaluated strictly as per criteria framed by NAAC and any misadventure beyond it will be presumed as extravaganza exercise at the cost of hampering academics as well as state exchequer” opined, a senior faculty member of the college, confiding anonymity.
Expressing serious concern over lavish use of funds in government colleges prior to NAAC assessment, Prof. SK Bhalla, renowned anti-corruption crusader and social activist said, “Bridal make up of campus prior to NAAC team visit is most favourite excercise which is religiously being encouraged with over enthusiasm in GCW, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. The college Principals are learned and experienced folk and NAAC has explicitly explained everything in details pertaining to each of 7 parameters for understanding of college authorities so as to help them planned their course of action to accomplish the required results”.
Prof Bhalla further asserted, “In my opinion except personal laddering, mock pre NAAC drill seems to be a meaningless exercise and college administration must avoid wasting scarce resources generated from students by indulging in such extravaganza. Fair evaluation of HEIs is useful for growth of institutions as well as society and if there is any hanky-panky in the process, the appropriate NAAC authorities at Bangalore head quarter would be apprised with all supporting documents”. Special audit of wasteful resources is need of the hour, added Prof Bhalla.
For ensuring quality and relevance of education in tune with goals underlines in National Education Policy (NEP), the University Grants Commission have made it mandatory for every Higher Educational Institutes (HEI) to get certification by NAAC on regular basis for its conformance to the standards of quality based on 7 parameters which includes-curriculum, teaching-learning and evaluation process, research-innovation and extensions, infrastructure, governance, students progression and Institutional values.
Sadly, this significant exercise has been observed in irregular manner by majority of government colleges in J&K, UT as none of the institution so far has maintained constitency in ranking.
Sources privy to the authorities in Govt SPS (Women) college, Gandhi Nagar which is a 60 years old college and gearing for 3rd cycle of NAAC assessment after a long gap of 11 years said, “In term of 7 criteria, the college allegedly have not made any substantial progress”.
Further sharing details, reliable sources said that there is zero research, no skill-vocational subject introduced and despite being an urban city college with most of staff stay of 5-15 years it failed to fetch a single project. Even old water harvesting system rendered defunct, composting unit is not maintained and re-used, PoS are not show attainment, secrecy of examinations is compromised as it conducted sans coding and decoding, Board of studies has not taken required step for NEP 2020, no Skill Center, no Browsing Center, no green audit, no gender audit, no research Center, no annual day was held for the last 2 years, no revenue generation from alumni and no MoU was signed with any industrial units.
It is mind blowing see that instead of repairing the existing water harvesting unit and wellness centre in GCW, Gandhi Nagar, the authorities in run up to NAAC assessment has constructed a fitness centre and water harvesting unit, avers an official of the college. There are also reports that the college is facing severe shortage of class rooms as for the last several years, the authorities failed to construct additional class rooms.
When contacted, Menu Mahajan, Principal, GCW, Gandhi Nagar while refuting allegations of cosmetic upliftment said that maintenance of college premises is a routine affair and every penny prior to NAAC team visit has been incurred judiciously, adding “The College is gearing for 3rd cycle of NAAC certification and expecting better ranking as the college is standing “robust” on all 7 parameters.”.