Exposed: NCTE's lack of monitoring colleges in MP

The Special Task Force's (STF) notice to Barkatullah University (BU) on issues relating to colleges of physical education has exposed the absolute lack of monitoring on part of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), western regional committee (WRC).

It is the NCTE, which gives recognition to private, government colleges and BU, which affiliates college operating under its jurisdiction. Those in the know of things about physical education colleges alleged that NCTE is not concerned about the level of education in the institutes under its supervision.

An advocate practicing at Supreme Court, Amaresh Kumar said, "I had been associated with two private colleges of Bhopal and in both, the management asked me to take the remuneration even though I had not taken a single class. Worried over the state of affairs, I lodged a complaint with the NCTE with a proof but it didn't take any action. When STF probes the matter, they would definitely detect a major scam in the BPEd admissions."

In fact, the situation is so bad that about a dozen colleges out of 46 affiliated colleges do not exist at the place where they should be according to NCTE list.

At least two of them — Noor Khan Shikshan Sansthan Barkatullah Smriti College and Career Society's Career College, Goundarmau — are defunct and yet their continue to enjoy NCTE affiliation despite the strong norms in place for running a physical education institution.

According to NCTE guidelines, in case of change of premises, prior approval of its concerned regional committee is to be taken, which could be accorded after due inspection of the institution at the new site.

But none of the colleges, who changed their premises, informed NCTE nor did the NCTE bother to inspect the buildings. An official said that RD Memorial College of Physical Education, which was supposed to be running in MP Nagar, in Bhopal, is being run at Barkhedi without NCTE inspection.

After complaint was lodged a year back, the NCTE officials woke up and served notice to the college. Despite receiving complaint about one particular college, it didn't try to inspect the location of other colleges.

He further said, "Like NCTE, BU too never paid much attention to monitor the working of the affiliated colleges. Just like RD Memorial College, another college Abhilashi College of Physical Education was shifted to Nadini village from its earlier location in Ratibad. When in 2012, the committee paid a surprise visit, they found irregularities. Despite the BU getting a negative inspection report, it didn't cancel the affiliation. The college is still running without any facilities."

BU registrar LS Solanki, however, claims that the university follows NCTE while giving affiliations. When Hindustan Times talked to NCTE, WCR director Sunil Shrivastava, he said, "I can't comment on this but all I can say is that we work according to the NCTE regulations."