CCTV enters classrooms of Bangalore college

Closed-circuit television or CCTV has become the buzzword in these turbulent times. It seems to be the magic pill for preventing crimes against women, catching crooks to arresting falling academic standards; police love them; now, colleges have joined the bandwagon.

A college in the city has become the first state-run college to install CCTVs to monitor students, as the management believes it can keep academic malpractices in check as well as improve academic standards.

Government RC College of Commerce and Management on Race Course Road has installed CCTVs in all its classrooms and corridors. Though many other colleges refused to install CCTVs citing financial constraints, RC College has gone ahead and done it.

“No government college is ready to install CCTVs. However, we proposed this idea for maintaining fairness during examinations in particular,” said BR Niranjan, director, directorate of correspondence courses and distance education, Bangalore University, who proposed the idea.

At RC College, a CCTV camera has been installed in each of its 40 classrooms. Funds for installing CCTVs were procured from the college development community, remuneration from correspondence course and sponsorships by guest faculty.

According to Venugopal, principal, RC College, outsiders entering the college, which was a big nuisance earlier, had been curbed with the aid of CCTVs. "Petty thefts have also reduced. Since students know they are being watched, they are more careful. Also, students who were not attending classes, have become more regular,” said Venugopal.

Venugopal is not only watching students, he is also keeping a watch on the quality of teaching in every classroom.