BANGALORE: The Bangalore University Academic Council on Tuesday resolved to seek a reconsideration of the Inter-university Board's proposal on postgraduate admissions with a view to ensuring that 70 per cent of postgraduate seats in the university will be available for students from affiliated colleges. The council felt 20 per cent of the seats could be set aside for students from other universities in Karnataka and the rest of the seats for those from outside the State.

At its 43rd meeting in August last year, the board suggested a 50:40:10 ratio, with 50 per cent of seats for university students, 40 per cent for students from other universities in Karnataka, and 10 per cent for those from outside the State. At the council's ordinary meeting here, members contended that most students in private colleges in Bangalore are from outside the State. If the university adopts the board's proposal, students from colleges affiliated to it will face difficulty in securing a seat in a PG course, they felt. Besides, students from more than 400 colleges under Bangalore University would prefer joining a PG course in the university, they said.

They said the decline in quality of teachers is a major issue in affiliated colleges, particularly B.Ed. institutions. Several council members wondered how local inquiry committees have recommended renewal of affiliation of colleges where the quality of teachers is questionable.

Council member Ravichandra Reddy and others proposed setting up of a panel that will find out if colleges have complied with the demands of local inquiry committees and have appointed qualified teachers.

Many members said the National Council for Teachers' Education (NCTE) has approved colleges which lack an adequate number of qualified teachers. Vice-Chancellor M.S. Thimmappa said the NCTE has recognised colleges that were not approved by local inquiry committees.

Dr. Thimmappa said although the payment of UGC (University Grants Commission) salaries is a management issue, the university will take action against colleges that lack qualified teachers. The university will be lenient for first affiliation. But it will not renew affiliation if local inquiry committee recommendations are not followed, he said.

The Vice-Chancellor warned of "stringent action" against colleges that do not act upon the findings of local inquiry committees on lack of infrastructure and qualified teachers and other shortages. Several colleges that have applied for affiliation for B.A., B.Sc., B.Com. and B.B.M. courses, he said, lack infrastructure. Applications from such institutions will be rejected, he said. Quality teaching, infrastructure and good academic track record will be criteria for approval of new courses, he added. Based on reports, the council on Tuesday approved fresh affiliation for 52 courses in various colleges, renewal of affiliation for 402 courses and permanent affiliation of 29 colleges.

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