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| BJB Autonomous College in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture |
Bhubaneswar, April 8: The physics department at BJB Autonomous College has been left with just one faculty member for its 335 students after one of the two teachers retired.
While almost all the department in the department are facing the crisis of staff shortage, the physics department has been the worst hit.
Professor R.K. Rath, one of the two teachers who were managing the class for the last few months, retired on the last week of March. Susama Tripathy, who was the former principal incharge of the college, is now the lone teacher, is managing 116 classes week for students of various semesters.
Tripathy also is due to retire at the end of this month, after which the department will be left with no faculty members. “This happens to be the best college in the state and the dream destination for every student. Moreover, the brightest among the lot choose physics as their subject and yet, this is what the government has to offer them,” a senior faculty member said.
The college authorities have been repeatedly writing to the government, informing them about the situation. “The department has now and then promised action but nothing concrete has been worked out,” he said.
Although the sanctioned strength for the department is seven, no appointments for degree colleges were made since 1989. The acute teacher shortage crisis in the department has left the students panicky. Only 50 per cent of the total classes are being taken, rue students. “Classes are generally suspended as there are no teachers available. Courses are not completed and we are left to study the remaining portions ourselves,” said Prajakta a student.
“Teachers cover only certain important topics,” said Sambhav, another student.“We are being deprived of our legitimate rights. If this is the situation in BJB College, one can imagine the plight of students in remote colleges,” he said.
The college has provision for guest faculties but the Rs 350 per class sanctioned for the purpose is insufficient to avail the services of any teacher, said authorities.
