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Rohtak (Haryana): Nearly 150,000 students face an uncertain future after the Haryana
government directed the Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in
Rohtak to shut down its more than 11,000 study centres inside and
outside the state.
The Haryana government last month passed a bill in the assembly
amending the MDU act of 1975, effectively closing down the study
centres of its Directorate of Distance Education (DDE). The
university has its only campus in Rohtak but its distance
education study centres are spread all over Haryana and also other
states.
"Since the state has developed a sound institutional network with
as many as 30 universities, approximately 693 colleges, inclusive
of government, government-aided and self-financing colleges, two
post-graduate regional centres, it does not seem necessary for the
state universities to open study centres in the jurisdiction of
state also," the government stated.
The death knell had been sounded earlier with the University
Grants Commission (UGC) following Supreme Court directions and
asking all states to ensure that their universities stop all
off-campus study centres outside the academic jurisdiction of
these institutions.
According to official data, MDU had been running over 11,000 study
centres. Of these, 1,168 centres were set up directly by the
university, while nearly 10,000 were opened through its 10 global
study centres across the nation.
"Since distance education is the major source of income for the
university, the closure of distance education courses means a huge
loss," Narender Garg, professor and DDE director, told IANS.
"DDE had earned a revenue of Rs.120 crore in last financial year,"
said Garg.
"The government should allow enrolled students to complete their
courses as a large number of students have either reached the last
stage of their courses or finished more than half," he added.
The government's order has come as a shock for the many students
in the middle of their courses. Every day, a large number of
students visit the DDE office to ask about the university's plan
for them but university authorities say they can't do much.
"The government is playing with the future of students by taking
such anti-student decision without contemplating over its negative
impact," said Sunil Hooda, a student of BCA (bachelor of computer
applications).
"The government should either roll back its decision or allow the
enrolled students to complete their courses."
Ramesh Sharma, another student, said the government's decision was
a "bolt from the blue".
Satish Kumar, an owner of the study centre, said they were
planning to challenge the government's decision in court.
"Otherwise, it would be a major setback for those working youth
who wished to study along with their job."
Garg said that the DDE was waiting for further directive from the
government side regarding the fate of already enrolled students as
the position of these students was not made clear in the recent
amendment of the act.
The courses offered range from one-year postgraduate diplomas to
three- year courses like a BCA. Some courses like MA and MBA are
for two years. The fee structure varies - ranging from minimum
Rs.5,000 per year for conventional courses to Rs.15,000 for
professional ones. The study centres offer at least 24
conventional and professional courses.
(Ravinder Saini can be contacted at ravindersainiscribe@gmail.com)
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