The controversy surrounding mass communication faculty in Nagpur University is getting murkier by the day. University sources revealed that
on the one hand university had deferred the Bachelor of Journalism (BJ) examination citing colleges’ failure to fulfil UGC norms. On the other hand, it conducted exam of newly-introduced MA in Mass Communication course under the same faculty in March.
As per the direction 4(II) issued for MA in mass communication, the institute running the course should have a teacher student ratio of 1:15 with a limit of total 30 students per semester. This means the college should have four regular lecturers as MA is a four semesters course.
Moreover, direction No 5 (a) mentions that there shall be at least three full-time teachers appointed as per existing qualifications and recruitment conditions laid down by the university/UGC. Both these directions are issued by vice-chancellor S N Pathan under Section 14(8) of the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994.
The directions for BJ and MA courses were framed during a meeting of ad-hoc board of studies in mass communication held on March 12-14, 2007, and April 9-10, 2008, for implementation from the academic session of 2008-09. A copy of VC’s directions in possession of TOI mentions that they were issued with a view to develop professional skills and competency.
Nonetheless, sources said that when university had no qualms about conducting the MA (mass com) exam without any lecturers, why is it insisting on the same for BJ students.
A similar situation prevails in other courses like engineering, biotech, BBA, BCA. Why the university was singling out mass communication faculty? They are wondering if there was more to it than the university was revealing.
R Kadhao, dean of social sciences, said that BJ exams would be held from May 11.