Gaya: BEd and MEd students of the academic sessions 2016-18 and 2017-19 at Magadh University (MU) have threatened a fast-unto-death in case the proposal to transfer the education department building to the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) is executed.

Upset over the university's move to transfer two floors of the three-storeyed education department building to IIM-Bodhgaya for its use till full development of its separate campus within the MU premises, the students have got agitated.

In a petition addressed to the President of India, students of BEd and MEd courses of the university have said in case the proposal to transfer the building was executed, the National Council of Technical Education (NCTE) may de-recognise the BEd and MEd courses being run in MU.

According to NCTE guidelines, a minimum of 4500sqft built-up area was required for recognition by the apex body. The three-storeyed building hardly meets the requirement. Transfer of two of the three floors of the building to the IIM will imply de-recognition of the university's BEd and MEd courses, says the petition.

The petition also said a minimum of eight classrooms, besides other facilities were required to hold regular classes of the two-year BEd and MEd courses. Transfer of the existing building to the IIM will leave little space for classrooms for about 1,000 BEd and MEd students of the 2016-18 and 2017-19 sessions. The future of the course itself will become uncertain.

Seeking the President's intervention, the students have sent an SOS-like petition to the President. Copies of the petition have been forwarded to the Union HRD minister, governor and the chief minister.

When contacted, varsity vice-chancellor Qamar Ahsan refused to comment on the demands of the BEd and MEd students. The VC neither confirmed nor denied the proposal to transfer the building to the IIM.