Senate passes Mumbai University’s perspective plan, but not without opposition

The Mumbai University’s perspective plan, which looks at the overall academic expansion of the varsity by outlining number of colleges required in different regions and the streams in which they are needed, was passed by the senate late on Monday night.

The approval, however, came amidst a lot of opposition. The plan has recommended about 185 new colleges, of which about 43 are for Mumbai and 59 for Thane.

According to several members, the plan has not been drawn up scientifically and the university must first address problems such as lack of teachers and facilities in existing colleges.

While 29 members voted in favour of the plan, 11 (of which 10 were from the Bombay University College Teachers’ Union) voted against it. Senate member Madhu Paranjape said the plan should be drawn up only after studying issues like population projection and number of students passing Std XII from a particular region. “But a proper demand-supply study was not done while preparing the plan,” she said.

According to some members, the plan calls for new colleges in areas where they may not be needed. “The Pen engineering college closed down two years back as there were no students.

The plan shows requirement of another engineering college there. So, what rationale was used while making the recommendations,” said Anjali Kanitkar, another senate member.

Though the university’s management council had cleared the plan, which outlined the need for 173 new colleges, about 10-12 more colleges were added when it was tabled in the senate.

“They were added to the backward/tribal areas. Enrollment of students from the weaker section has to rise so we supported the plan,” said Vaibhav Narawade, a senate member.