Academics in higher education arena expect Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to explain why Chikkiah Naicker College in Erode has not been transformed into a government arts and science college as yet during her public meeting in Perundurai on Thursday.
Various sections of public have, over the years, been representing to the government at various levels for positive intervention, but to no avail.
The once-glorious college that was started in 1954 has been losing its reputation due to stagnation in teaching-learning caused by unfilled vacancies and the dilapidation caused to buildings. The college is in a peculiar state of being administered by the Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, though there will be no financial burden on the State for converting it into a government arts and science college.
Students had, in the last few years, conducted several agitations highlighting the demand. On one such occasion a year ago, Environment Minister Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam, himself an alumnus of the college, gave an assurance to students on an indefinite fast that their demand would be fulfilled within three months.
“But things are at a standstill. The mystery behind the government’s continuous reluctance to convert the CNC’s status to a government arts and science college remains unresolved, though the institution’s weakening caused by severe shortage of teaching staff was apparent,” N. Pasupathy, general secretary of Association of University Teachers, said.
There were concerns over the ‘arbitrary’ way in which some appointments were made in recent years, Prof. Pasupathy said.
The college is at a prime location on a 56-acre campus. By converting CNC into a government college, the Higher Education Department will also be in a position to use the land on the campus for starting government engineering and polytechnic colleges, the college teachers say.
