1 week ago
North Bengal University Struggles to Fill Postgraduate Seats
North Bengal University has many postgraduate seats that students have not filled.
About 550 students joined, but nearly 450 seats are still empty.
The university has opened admissions again to give more students a chance to apply.
Officials say applications were low in several departments.
The university used to have almost 4,000 students across its programmes around 2011-12.
It is also short of teachers and has not had a permanent vice-chancellor for a long time.
These problems have reduced the money the university receives from student fees.
The university also has a large financial deficit and must pay many temporary workers.
A local lawmaker said the problems could improve after a permanent vice-chancellor is appointed.
North Bengal University has admitted about 550 students against roughly 1,000 postgraduate seats across 34 departments.
The university issued a fresh admission notice after nearly 450 seats remained vacant.
Officials and faculty linked the decline to low applications, staff shortages, financial difficulties and the absence of a permanent vice-chancellor.
The university’s student strength has fallen from nearly 4,000 in 2011-12 to its current level.
NBU faces an estimated ₹45 crore deficit and relies on fixed-deposit interest to pay about 469 temporary employees.
- Who
- North Bengal University, its officials and faculty, and Anandamay Barman, the BJP MLA for Matigara-Naxalbari.
- What
- The university admitted about 550 postgraduate students, leaving nearly 450 seats vacant, while facing wider administrative and financial problems.
- Where
- North Bengal University, in the Matigara-Naxalbari Assembly constituency of north Bengal.
- When
- The first-semester admission process closed on Thursday, and a fresh admission notice was issued on Friday; the university had nearly 4,000 students around 2011-12.
- Why
- Applications and enrolments have declined amid a shortage of teachers, the prolonged absence of a permanent vice-chancellor and financial difficulties.
Crisis Concerns
Official Reassurance
Cause of declining enrolment
Crisis Concerns
A senior faculty member and university sources describe the fall in admissions as evidence of institutional decline, alongside staff shortages, financial problems and the absence of a permanent vice-chancellor.
Official Reassurance
University officials say applications were low and that some departments received fewer applicants than available seats; the administration is giving students additional time through a fresh admission notice.
Prospects for recovery
Crisis Concerns
The university’s declining student population and reduced fee revenue are adding to an existing financial deficit, making the situation more difficult.
Official Reassurance
Anandamay Barman said the financial and administrative problems are likely to be resolved after legal issues are settled and a permanent vice-chancellor is appointed, which he hopes will happen within two months.
Key facts
- Postgraduate seats
- About 1,000 seats across 34 departments
- Students admitted
- Around 550
- Vacant seats
- Nearly 450
- Financial deficit
- Around ₹45 crore in income-expenditure accounts
- Salary grant
- The university has not received one for more than eight years
- Temporary staff
- Around 469 employees, officers and non-teaching staff depend on university funds
- Annual temporary-staff salaries
- Around ₹12 crore
Quotes
Samar Kumar Biswas
Acting registrar of North Bengal University
“The university does not have a vice-chancellor. Once the legal issues are resolved, I hope it will get one within two months. Several other universities are facing a similar situation and we are keeping an eye on all of them. The decline in the number of teachers and students did not happen overnight. We will gradually set things right.”
telegraphindia.com
“Nearly another 450 seats remain vacant. We have issued a new advertisement on Friday so that students get some more time to take admission.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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