BHOPAL: Administration staffs of colleges have gone in a tizzy after professors have been put on Lok Sabha election duty amidst examinations. There are several colleges where no staff is left to conduct the examinations. The UG (under graduate) and PG (post graduate) exams of Barkatullah University have begun while professors’ duty for elections has thrown conduction of examination to winds. There are several colleges where only principal is left to conduct the exams.
Several principals have written letter to higher education department besides meeting the district returning officer to cancel the duty of professors or to make alternative arrangements for smooth conduction of examination. The examination of Barkatullah University begun from Saturday and will continue till June 10. Examination for BA, BBA, BCom, BSc, BSc home science etc will begin from Monday and continue till June 7.
Barkatullah University has colleges spread across eight districts and more than 1.60 lakh students are taking the exams. About 90,000 students are appearing for bachelors first year and more than 70,000 will be appearing for the second year exams. The ground situation is that in 457 state run colleges about 75% of the colleges are running with one or two regular teachers only.
More than 100 professors were transferred after formation of the new government. Bigger cities including Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior have professors in full strength- in some colleges even in excess. Worst are the colleges far from main cities and rural areas that are running with minimum staff of one or two regular teachers and dependent on contract teachers.
Lok Sabha elections and Barkatullah University examinations are being held simultaneously. While election commission cries of shortage of people for election duty- higher education department wants smooth conduction of examination besides timely declaration of results.