Draft education bill to empower students, VCs

Updated on: Friday, December 23, 2011

State education minister Bratya Basu is expected to present the draft West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011, in the assembly on Friday. The draft bill, which is likely to replace the earlier The West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) ordinance, 2011, is expected to free the education system from political interference. The proposed bill allows students' participation in the University faculty councils. It also provides vice-chancellors with the opportunity to defend themselves in case there is any move to remove them for having any political bias.

The Left MLAs, however, will decide on Friday whether they would participate in the ensuing debate on the bill. Assembly opposition leader Surjya Kanta Mishra said, "The Left Front parliamentary party will meet on Friday and decide on its participation."

Apart from allowing student participation and giving more power to VC, the draft bill allows non-teaching employee and a university officer to be a member of the senate ( Calcutta University) and court ( Jadavpur University). The University registrar and finance officers will not be a part of the CU syndicate and JU executive council - the highest decision-making bodies. Likewise, it will be the same for other universities as well. The reason being cited for it is that these officers usually hold their position for decades. Their chair should not be the lone criterion for a near-permanent membership to these bodies, sources indicated.

Several ex-officio members have also been included in the decision-making bodies. The secretaries of higher education department and finance department and the West Bengal State Council for Higher Education will form a part of these bodies. Along with them, there will also be a nominee of the chairman of National Council for Teachers' Education, either the College Service Commission chairman or a member as their nominee and five senior-most University professors. Sugato Marjit, state higher education council chairman, confirmed the proposed changes. Higher Education Committee chairman Abhirup Sarkar said, "There is also a special invitee clause. If the Chancellor, so deem fit, may invite any University employee or even outside experts to such bodies."

The draft bill also makes certain changes to the VC's selection criteria. It says all prospective VC candidates should have an experience of five years as professors. The ordinance before had a 10-year criterion. The reason for this is simple: the state government is not finding candidates with a 10-year experience as professors with 10 years with a reputed research or academic institution in an administrative position.

Allowing student participation, albeit only in the faculty councils, is being seen as a move to soothe the temper of students. However, they still not figure in the highest bodies like Syndicate or Faculty Council. The non-teaching staff and University officers, however, figure in the same. Sarkar reasoned, "What has a student to do with university's infrastructure or teacher's promotion? This and many other decisions, not concerning them, are taken by these bodies."

The biggest difference is the clause that if any vice-chancellor is removed for political association or bias, it is the Chancellor - the governor - who will take a final call on his removal. The draft Bill also says, "provided that the vice-chancellor shall be given reasonable opportunity to show-cause by the Chancellor before taking recourse for his removal under the clauses ..." This wasn't there in the ordinance.

Earlier as per the ordinance, a candidate's political association wouldn't have allowed them to be a VC in the first place. This was there in the selection criteria itself. "The Chancellor has been empowered more," a senior education department officer said. The University pro vice-chancellor also will be given a chance to defend, if removed, for political bias. The selection criteria clause in the ordinance on political association or bias isn't a part of the proposed bill anymore.

Times of India

Draft education bill to empower students, VCs

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