Magadh University vocational courses in limbo

GAYA: With university officials reluctant to lift the ban on admission to more than two dozen vocational courses, the programme itself stands in limbo. Vice chancellor Md Ishtiaq explicitly banned admission to these courses including BSc biochemistry, biotechnology, BBA, BCA, MCA, MLib, food processing, fashion designing, hotel management, tourist management, physiotherapy etc.till receipt of the go-ahead both from the Raj Bhawan and the state government.
According to sources, whereas the Raj Bhawan has approved the course design and other regulations for nine of the 29 courses going on in the university, the government has not approved the courses thereby making the scenario bleak for degree/diploma aspirants in these courses. Confirming the university stand that admission to these courses stood banned till the twin conditions of Raj Bhawan and government approval was met, Magadh University PRO Shamshul Islam said the chancellor has approved the regulation/ordinance for nine of the courses and the remaining courses are in the pipeline. However, sources say imminent change of guard in the Raj Bhawan may affect the clearance of the remaining courses.
The courses for which the Raj Bhawan has accorded approval include BBM, BLib, MLib, BSc (IT), MSc (IT) and women's studies.
Asked if the state government has framed guidelines in accordance with Section 61(2) of the Bihar Universities Act, the MU PRO said the government was yet to frame its response.
Asked about complaints that the vocational courses have turned into money minting business with no quality control mechanism, the PRO said a four-member committee has been constituted to ensure quality control and uniformity in fee structure. The PRO admitted that the system needed proper monitoring and control.
The MU banned admission to these courses in the light of the Raj Bhawan initiative to streamline the courses and ensure uniformity in fee structure, transparency in admission process, creation of adequate infrastructure and maintenance of quality in education in these courses by engaging only qualified teachers.
As of now these vocational courses, as per the popular perception, have emerged as money minting machines for unscrupulous elements including the education mafia and a section of university staff. The products of these institutions of questionable repute have few takers in the job market and even those who somehow manage to get jobs are hired at very low remuneration for jobs below their entitlement.
The state government is likely to insist on an effective mechanism for the efficient functioning of these courses. At the PG level, the courses require at least one university professor, two associate professors and three assistant professors besides support staff including computer operator, sweeper and two peons.
Moreover, whereas over two dozen vocational courses were introduced in the university headquarters and constituent as well as affiliated colleges, no posts were either created or recruitments made for specialized teaching. Some of the colleges even outsourced teaching to agencies of dubious repute with the result that the passouts have found little acceptance in the job market and most of them continue to swell the army of the unemployed/unemployable.