Students stage protest in Dharwad urging authorities to resolve academic issues

Urging the authorities to take immediate steps to resolve various academic issues pertaining to degree college students, scores of students staged a demonstration in Dharwad on Monday.

The students staged the demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad under the aegis of All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) and urged the State government to take immediate remedial measures.

Addressing the protesting students, AIDSO district secretary Shashikala Meti said that although degree classes across the State began a month ago, there are no adequate number of teachers in government colleges.

“Almost all government degree colleges in the State are dependent on guest lecturers and students are concerned about classes not being held properly even after a month of them starting,” she said.

Shashikala Meti said that while the first internal examinations are supposed to be organised next month, classes are not being conducted, further worsening the situation.

She said that because of the new guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and cases in court of law, the appointment of guest lecturers has been kept pending, which has naturally worsened the situation.

She said despite clear observations from the Supreme Court that following Central guidelines is not always mandatory, the State government is yet to take a firm decision on the issue in the interests of students.

District president Sindhu Koudi, secretary Spoorthy Chikkamath and others led the protest. They all submitted a memorandum to the district authorities subsequently.