'Many Engg college teachers lack qualifications' : HC

KOCHI: In a shocking finding it has come to light that those without engineering qualification are taking classes for BTech in some of the engineering colleges in the state. The finding was reported by an expert panel appointed by the state government to look into the facilities in engineering colleges. The report was submitted before the Kerala High Court on Friday.

It has also been found that some teachers in aided colleges work in self-financing colleges without getting the permission or sanction for deputation from the state government. The panel examined 85 self-financing colleges in the state.

In the first phase, colleges in different categories were selected for examination, stated the report by the eight-member panel in which G Ramachandran and N Vijayakumar are members. The panel had selected colleges under various universities for the study. The High Court has directed to hand over the report to the respective universities. The universities were further entrusted with the responsibility of finding solutions to the shortcomings and cancel the recognition of those colleges which do not have qualified teachers.

  In the first phase, the panel examined 28 colleges which included 10  under Kerala University, four under MG University, two under Cusat and 12 under Calicut University. The report said that colleges under Kerala University are comparatively better. There are some colleges with various other shortcomings. There is a shortage of teachers in the level of associate professor. Though there are senior teachers in these colleges, the remaining teachers have only two to three years of experience, the report said.

  The panel said that the situation in colleges under Calicut University was bad.Certain colleges even share teachers. The name of one teacher was mentioned in the list of two colleges.The shortage of assistant professors was also observed. Professors in some colleges under Cusat have only BTech qualification. Even those with science graduation take classes for engineering courses, the report said.

  In some colleges under MG University people without engineering graduation take classes for BTech courses. Three colleges under Kannur University have not conducted the first phase verification. Some colleges under the university have not posted details about the teachers on their website. The panel has submitted an elaborate report with college-wise details to the state government.