Mumbai: JJ School of Arts Gets Autonomy Status
Officials of Department of Higher and Technical Education mentioned all the three colleges under JJ Group must form an independent regulatory board of their own and the term of the board is five years.
The Cabinet of Maharashtra has granted autonomous status to Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy School of Arts, one of the oldest colleges in the state. The institute has been waiting for an autonomous status for the past few years, and the announcement made by the cabinet brought happiness for both the faculty and the students. They hailed the academic freedom given by the government.
All the three colleges in the JJ School group which include fine arts, architecture, and applied arts will now have freedom and autonomy to decide their curriculum. Earlier, the institute was affiliated with the University of Mumbai.
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Rajiv Mishra, Director-in-charge of Directorate of Arts considered the autonomous status as a historic move for the college as well as all the stakeholders. He thanked the state government for timely decision. He indicated that the institute would have its curriculum and will make it more ‘industry friendly’. The institute can upgrade its fee structure and provide better facilities for the students.
Officials of Department of Higher and Technical Education mentioned all the three colleges under JJ School must form an independent regulatory board of their own and the term of the board id five years. The state government will appoint experts from the field of arts, well-known artisans and architects as the chairman of these boards.
Vinod Tawde, Minister for Higher and Technical Education, said that JJ School of Arts is the oldest art school and it is the prestige of Maharashtra. The college will form independent panels which include education board, examination board, subject board, purchase panel and economic panel and also a panel for building and infrastructure.
The college has to register itself under Public Charitable Trust 1950 and Society Registration Act 1860 to raise funds on their own. However, the state government will also provide funds to the college. As of now, the college will get Rs. 9.87 crore from the state government as block fund.
Hereafter, the institute need not approach Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) to fill vacant faculty posts. The appointment of faculty members will be looked after by board of governors.