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Nursing students in a fix as college fails to get affiliation

Staff Reporter

Some of faculty, principal found working elsewhere

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

SEEKING JUSTICE: Students of a private nursing college waiting outside the Assembly premises to meet Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Tuesday.

PONDICHERRY: More than 100 students, who have joined in the Vinayaka Mission College of Para-Medical Sciences at Kirumampakkam here in Pondicherry, are in a difficult situation because the college did not have the affiliation to the Pondicherry University at the time of enrolment.

With the university refusing to grant affiliation after an inspection on June 15, the students, who have joined the the college during the academic year 2002-03 and 2003-04, are running pillar to post for a solution. Already the students have lost two semesters. Their last hope is the inspection by the university to grant affiliation. However, after conducting the inspection, the university has communicated to the Dean on July 3 that it has decided not to grant affiliation to the two batches.

The communication, a copy of which is with The Hindu , said, " the records produced by the college relating to the faculty members were verified and it was found that some of the faculty including principal were actually working elsewhere". The inspection was done after a directive from the High Court on May 23.

Earlier in December last year, the Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council (TNNMC) conducted a surprise inspection and the council found the college as not having any basic infrastructure to run the course. The council suggested to the Government to shift the students to other colleges in Pondicherry. The college management obtained an interim stay from the HC on TNNMC observation. The college had admitted 49 students for the academic year 2002-03 and another 58 students for 2003-04. Even 14 students sponsored by the Government were also admitted in 2003-04 batches.

At the time of admitting the students, the college had only temporary recognition from the Indian Nursing Council and TNNMC. The recognition was granted subject to certain conditions and fulfilment of infrastructure facilities.

It is not known how the Government could sponsor students to a college not recognised by the university.

The students of both the batch were allowed to take first semester to fourth semester examinations after a HC direction. The university withholds the results of two semester examinations, till now. The Health Secretary, Anbarassu, when contacted, said, "Since the university has refused to grant affiliation, we would approach the HC to vacate the interim stay on TNNMC observation and allow to shift the students to other colleges."

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