The Information and Broadcasting ministry on Tuesday decided to constitute a team to assess the ground situation at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), a day after students gheraoed director Prashant Pathrabe in his office in Pune over "assessment" process.
The Information and Broadcasting ministry on Tuesday decided to constitute a team to assess the ground situation at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), a day after students gheraoed director Prashant Pathrabe in his office in Pune over "assessment" process.
It is learnt that the team of senior officials will visit Pune and study the situation where the students have been opposing the ongoing "assessment" of incomplete diploma film projects of the 2008 batch.
Academic activity in FTII is at a standstill with the agitation by students demanding removal of BJP member and TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as its chairman entering the 69th day on Tuesday.
While FTII Students' Association (FSA) have called the "assessment" unjustified, authorities have held that the process is important for the premier institution.
Sources said that FTII administration has been concerned over the fact that several students of the 2008 batch have not yet passed out of the institute. Therefore officials said the the projects of 2008 batch have been assessed on as is where is basis as per norms which the students are opposing.
There are also concerns the staying on by previous batches affects the fresh batches. Officials said that while there have been zero admission years, they have not served the purpose towards resolving problems at FTII.
"The academic council headed by the then chairman had way back on April 26, 2013 decided that 2008 batch diploma assessment is to be done in February 2014 on as is where is basis," a senior official said.
Sources said that there were several times during last year notices were given related to assessment and passing out of the 2008 batch after which the students would have to vacate the hostel.
"It is unreasonable to say that the present action is any way arbitrary as the previous management had sent notices to students of the 2008 batch. What is being done now is a follow up action," a source said adding that it seemed there are incentives to flunk.
Officials said authorities at the FTII are concerned over students overstaying at the institute and feel that ample opportunities have been given to accommodate their wishes.
They added that there have been some chronic problems in FTII including non-completion of courses as per academic schedule. Till recently about 40 students of 2008 and 2009 batches were overstaying in the hostel even after their courses were completed and they vacated the hostels only after administrative action was taken by the institute, they said.
The I&B ministry is also keen that the next batch of students is taken well in time and entrance test is held as per schedule. A senior official said the CAG has observed that there were zero admission years earlier but it has not served any purpose in streamlining the academics.
Officials in the I&B ministry meanwhile maintained that it is committed to making FTII an institute of national importance. They also added that the ministry was open to hold discussions on issues but they should, however, resume classes.
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