Colleges in Pune Facing Uncertainty over NAAC Gradation

Amid freeze on recruitment of principals and teaching employees and a tough deadline of next three months, 17 colleges in Pune division of Maharashtra, are struggling to get Gradation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Of the total 167 aided colleges, 17 from Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar had neglected the NAAC process, informed Dhanraj Mane, Director of Higher Education. He asked the representatives of these colleges to finish the accreditation process by November.

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While the college representatives said that several government orders had stopped them from conducting the accreditation process. These college representatives have expressed their apprehension that the colleges might get a lower grade for not meeting the requirement.

A member of the college representative said that they are short of the mandatory number of employees as the government has stopped teachers' and non-teaching employees' recruitment. Even the officials are not getting the salary and grant for many posts.

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Deputy director of education Pune region had sent notices to all 17 colleges for starting the NAAC process. The representatives of the college also said that for many years, the state government has not permitted colleges to recruit non-teaching and teaching employees and stopped salary grants to these aided colleges. Now it is not possible for the colleges to provide all the facilities on its own.

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As per the directives of the higher education department, these colleges must have at least 50% sanctioned teachers on board. Surprisingly, many colleges do not even have the mandated strength of employees. Even some colleges lack full-time principals.

Nandkumar Nikam, president of the Federation of Principals of the State, said that it is important for the colleges to go for the NAAC accreditation to achieve the quality of education. In view of the shortage of employees and no grants from the government, an accreditation seems to be an illusion.A meeting of the college managements, government officials, and principals is now the need of the time to solve this issue.