Future of 74,000 students at stake, Gauhati University offered 21 unapproved courses

December 1: A startling incident came to surface regarding mass anomalies by Gauhati University (GU) following a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). The CAG Report categorically stated that, “The Gauhati University has jeopardised the career prospects of nearly 74,000 students and collected Rs 39 crore as enrolment fees from them by offering 21 unapproved courses through its distance learning centre for seven years.”

The findings of the CAG, tabled during the ongoing Winter Session of the Assam Assembly, also says that the oldest university of the northeast had submitted multiple false affidavits to the UGC, assuring the commission that it will not start any new distance course without approval. As per the Report, Gauhati University has collected Rs 39 crore as enrolment fees from the students by offering these unapproved courses during the year 2010-11 to 2016-17.

The Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL) of the GU was recognised by the Indira Gandhi National Open University and Distance Education Council (DEC) in August 2010 for offering eight courses for three years from 2010-11. Later on, the approval was extended by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for five more years from 2013-14 to 2017-18.

It was in this connection that the CAG Report stated that IDOL, GU had offered 21 unapproved courses beyond the approved eight courses through ODL (open and distance learning) mode during the year 2010-11 to 2016-17. The Report further stated that the DEC and the IGNOU had clearly stated in July 2013 that courses offered by the GU through distance mode other than the eight approved courses were not recognised by the DEC and such degrees were not valid for jobs in central government services.

The CAG Report has thus made it clear that Gauhati University has jeopardized the career of thousand of students. The report highlighted that, “73,912 students were enrolled in 19 courses out of 21 unapproved courses during the year 2010-11 to 2016-17 and the GU collected fees of Rs 39.06 crore on these unapproved courses.” It is now the turn to wait and watch what decisions are taken by the Distance Education Council (DEC), IGNOU, UGC, AICTE and overall the state and central government. Till then, the 73,912 who qualified these 21 unapproved courses will have sleepless nights.