Awful state of junior colleges in Andhra Pradesh

Tirupati: From Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district to Rallabuduguru in Kuppam of Chittoor district, about 135 government junior colleges in the state have either only one regular faculty who has been also entrusted with additional responsibilities of acting as principal or no regular faculty at all.

This has been the bane of the Intermediate education in government colleges for years together. Even as the issue lay unattended and even when text books have been distributed for the new syllabus, colleges reopened on June 1 and another academic year has begun.

Normally, the textbooks should reach all the colleges in May itself. This year the entire syllabus of language subjects has been changed and the new books were released on Monday. It will take more time for them to reach all districts since almost five lakh books are required.

In other subjects also, changes have been made in the syllabus. Last year the board has sent the textbooks to the colleges almost in September – October. At that time, it was said that they did not print text books as a change in syllabus was expected this year.

It was after the outcry from parents, officials took steps to print 50 per cent of total indent. Oral instructions were also given to the colleges to collect textbooks from outgoing students and pass it on to new students. Even after all this, they could not send the books with revised syllabus before the reopening of colleges this year.

Speaking to The Hans India, District Vocational Education Officer (DVEO) Vishwanath Naik made it clear that they had sent the indents already.
Apart from books, several basic problems also plague Intermediate education in the state.

Several Principals who have been holding additional charge as principals. In the absence of regular principals in about 160 colleges of 448 colleges in the State, senior lecturers have been entrusted with the additional responsibility. Apart from regular teaching, they have to look after administration and scholarship works which they feel is burdensome.

Where there are no regular faculty, lecturers have been hired on contract basis. This has been continuing for more than two years at many places. Also, all 13 RIOs, 13 DVEOs and 3 RJDs are in-charges only. There are 1862 regular lecturers whereas 3362 contract and guest faculty are there and still there are several vacancies.

The government has recently announced introduction of mid-day meal scheme in junior colleges which the associations are also demanding. The budget was also sanctioned by the government, but modalities have not yet finalised. To implement this, the colleges face severe staff crunch.

The General Secretary of Government Junior College Lecturers Association Vunnam Ravi says that they went on strike with these problems in April and got an assurance that they will be solved soon. “We want the government to address all these issues. For the last five years there were no promotions. If problems are addressed, the government junior colleges can compete well with private colleges in getting good results”, he said.