Just two teachers for 120 students, Delhi School of Journalism under Vice-Chancellor's scanner
Already under criticism for functioning with two teachers for 120 students, the Delhi School of Journalism came up for discussion in the varsity's executive council meet on Tuesday when members of the council raised the issue of abysmal student-teacher ratio and exorbitant fees with the vice-chancellor.
In the executive council meeting, it was brought to the vice-chancellor's notice that DU's constitution employs faculty under four heads - permanent, temporary, ad hoc and guest.
Professor Rajesh Jha, who is also among the 19 EC members of DU, referred to a report carried in MAIL TODAY, pointing out the understaffed operations in DU's latest project. DSJ received flak from professors for operating with two contractual faculty members.
According to EC members present in the meeting, vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi then directed the head of the Department of Social Sciences to find the reason behind the shortcomings.
"We informed the V-C of the poor student-teacher ratio and high amount of fees being charged from students. The debate ensued as DSJ is considered the V-C's dream project," professor Rajesh Jha said.
Professor JP Dubey, head of Adult Continuing Education and Extension and member of social science department then briefed the V-C. "We are facing these teething issues because the school is at a very nascent stage. I have apprised the V-C of the student and teacher ratio in question," he confirmed.
"DSJ is a premier school brought into existence to show that DU can have a self-sustaining institution, adept of surviving on its own. We do not want to create institutions that need to be rescued in the future," he said. "As for the student-teacher ratio, we will involve more guest faculty in the coming years."
However, explaining that DSJ is not understaffed, officer on special duty Manasvini Yogi had earlier said, "The requirement of teachers stands at two and we are sufficiently staffed with assistance from 15 guest lecturers."