UP govt bans BEd course in new colleges

In a significant decision, the state government has directed seven state universities not to give affiliation to a new college for running BEd course. However, any existing college (where other courses are running) can start BEd course if it wants.

The decision has been made to check mushrooming of BEd colleges in the state. "Sporadic growth of BEd colleges has led to decline in the quality of education. The colleges where only BEd course is running have been found extremely poor in their performance,'' said a senior government official.

Though senior officials in the higher education department denied that any such order has been sent to universities, sources in Lucknow University admitted getting the order. The order is meant for Lucknow University; Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University, Kanpur; VBS Purvanchal University, Jaunpur; Dr BR Ambedkar University, Agra; Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith University, Varanasi; Deen Dayal Upadhyay University, Gorakhpur and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Faizabad.

A senior university official told TOI: "BEd has become a mess with the launch of special BTC. BEd colleges harass students to pay more fee than prescribed. The practice is more prevalent in colleges where only BEd course is running. The ban on opening new colleges has come as a respite for BEd aspirants.'' Besides, the government has also asked the universities to furnish details of the total number of seats in every BEd college and how many remained vacant last year.

"Only after we will have the data about the number of vacant seats, we will be able to take a decision,'' said a government official.