THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, April 18: Nilamber Pitamber University is actively working on a plan to rejuvenate classroom teaching, as many of its college classrooms remain sparsely attended or feature empty benches.
The university is committed to revitalizing and strengthening the teaching environment, with Vice Chancellor Dr. Prof. Dinesh Kumar Singh leading the efforts to enhance student engagement and participation.
VC’s Direct Approach to Improve Student Engagement
He conceded, “The average footfall of the students on the campus for taking classes is not even beyond 5 per cent. Many come for other purposes like issuance of identity card, character certificate etc. Very few walk into the classrooms. This has to be improved.”
“I believe students living within a radius of 15 km of their respective colleges should not skip their classroom teachings,” the VC reminded.
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Interrupted here by the Jharkhand Story correspondent that students living beyond 15 kms away from the colleges have any immunity to abstain from the class teaching, pat came the reply of the VC, “No. Not at all. Every enrolled student is to attend the classes. There is no immunity to anyone. My contention is that the onus of responsibility for attending classes is more on students who are not too far from the college.”
“Principal and professors in charge of the colleges will be asked to drop postcards to the parents of the students to send their wards to attend classroom teaching”, said the VC.
Way back in the 1990s, one constituent college here in Daltonganj used to run a slide in the cinema hall before the start of the films, reminding students in the cinema hall to return to their classrooms. It proved a success.
Introducing Teaching Personnel to Address Teacher Shortages
From how to increase the footfall of the students on campus to overcome the chronic shortage of teachers, Dinesh Kumar Singh has a plan which he shared with this correspondent, saying “We are mooting a plan to rope in Post Graduate Toppers of the subjects.”
“Well, I will not call them a teaching assistant. Assistant is such a word that gives a kind of official tinge. I call them teaching personnel,” he explained.
About the remuneration to the teaching personnel, the VC said, “It has to be managed by the internal sources of the university itself. Let me find out what the exact remuneration should be. I understand it shouldn’t be any below 300 rupees per engagement of the classes.”
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“It will not be any appointment but an engagement only giving the person no edge to any claim to any job in the university”, reiterated the VC.
Much depends on the availability of the Toppers and their inclination to start as teaching personnel.
Again, there is a blame game of classes going empty. Teachers say students don’t come. Students say the reverse of it. It’s the teaching that becomes the major casualty.
The VC is a plain-speaking man who avoids being either a revolutionary in academics or a timid follower of the trodden path. He wants to be as far pragmatic as possible.
