The Hindu : Colleges will be given time to rectify deficiencies: VC

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Others

Colleges will be given time to rectify deficiencies: VC

By Our Staff Reporter

POLLACHI, FEB. 16. Anna University will soon finalise a report on 60 engineering colleges, which it directed to rectify academic and infrastructural deficiencies, the Vice-Chancellor, E. Balagurusamy, said. He was speaking recently to presspersons after inaugurating a seminar on global networking, sponsored by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) at the Sree Saraswathi Thyagaraja College here.

The university would give the colleges some time to rectify the deficiencies. "Any business needs to give good service to its customers and we cannot allow colleges to function without proper facilities. Students will not be able to shine and they will bring a bad name to Anna University."

If students had to endure teachers who were not up to the mark and put up with inadequate facilities on the campus as well, they were likely to develop negative attitudes and go astray.

The university would take action against colleges that were deficient in laboratories, hostel facilities and teaching staff.

Prof. Balagurusamy suggested that associations of self-financing colleges help their members rectify the deficiencies pointed out by the university. To a question on a common entrance test for professional courses, he said preparations were on to hold it on April 24 and 25 at 250 centres in 39 cities and towns.

The university would conduct single-window admissions and provide guidelines to colleges on satisfying the norms while filling seats under the management quota. There was a proposal to conduct a State-level entrance test for postgraduate courses as well, but no decision was taken so far.

Earlier, inaugurating the seminar, Prof. Balagurusamy said science and technology could improve socio-economic conditions in the rural areas.

Pointing out that over 90 per cent of youth had no access to higher education and that 70 per cent of the population lived in rural areas, he said the digital divide between urban and rural areas could be bridged through viable networks that integrated satellite, fibre optic and wireless in local loop (WLL) systems.

Prof. Balagurusamy said that India had made use of only 10 to 15 per cent of the potential for practical application of information technology. There was need to build up faith and trust in computer networks, placing total reliance on indigenous systems. However, unscrupulous people could misuse technology to create misunderstandings between individuals and nations. Therefore, there was need to introduce online safeguards when establishing networks, he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Colleges will be given time to rectify deficiencies: VC

345 schemes inaugurated in Perambalur district

Utilise subsidy schemes, Adi Dravida women told

`SHG concept has improved rural economy'

Gold rings recovered, three held

AIADMK leader killed in accident

Held for possessing counterfeit notes

Woman murdered