SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 15: Teachers of Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) are vexed over the new diktat of the university Vice-Chancellor (VC) for making it compulsory for teachers to mark their online attendance on video.
Notably, VC Sukhdeo Bhoi has issued a decree directing the teachers of Dhanbad- Bokaro based all 10 constituent colleges of BBMKU to make online attendance in the chamber of their respective principals under video surveillance.
Meanwhile, the teachers of constituent colleges are irked over the fact claiming that they (teachers) use biometric monitors to mark their attendance twice a day, online attendance through video is unwarranted and no other university in the state has adopted this mode of attendance so far.
In wake of the BBMKU Vice-Chancellor directive, the principal of constituent colleges have also issued similar notifications in this regard directing teaching and non-teaching staff to make online attendance via video.
PK Roy Memorial College principal Dr Nasim Ahmed issued a notice in this regard on February 10 asking teachers and non-teaching staff to make online attendance in his chamber on all working days.
However, when contacted on Wednesday, some principals said that they had not received a written order from the office of the VC.
On the other hand, teachers of constituent colleges are surprised by the silence of the BBMKU Teachers Association over the diktat by the VC. They said that the teachers’ body must protest against the decree.
BBMKU Teachers’ Association spokesperson Dr Jitendra Aryan when contacted said that the association has not received any information officially from the university to date. “I have seen the report in this regard in the newspaper only. On basis of the newspaper report, BBMKU Teachers’ Association would not make any comment”, said Dr Aryan.
However, the Federation of Universities Teachers Association (FUTAJ), the frontal organisation of all six university teachers of the state has protested the decree of BBMKU and deemed it unwarranted.
FUTAJ general secretary Prof Raj Kumar (Ranchi University) said that online attendance in the video is not in practice in any university of Jharkhand. The teacher’s attendance is usually marked when while taking a class they sign the register.
“Even Supreme Court had ruled in favour of higher education teachers. It is unfortunate that teachers would have to show their faces on camera for ensuring presence in the institution. It may be a practice in banks and other establishments but in a higher educational institution it is against the dignity of teachers”, said Prof Raj Kumar.
The FUTAJ general secretary said that rather than focusing on online attendance BBMKU authorities should ensure whether teachers attend class on time or not and whether the syllabus is completed on time or not.
“FUTAJ thinks that it is nothing but a way of obliging outsourcing companies. If online attendance in the video is implemented, there would be a need for machines in all 10 colleges of the university. Obviously, an outsourcing company would be asked to supply said machines.
