More skeletons tumble out in BSc (IT) scam

Days after dna blew the lid off a BSc (IT) question paper scam, it has emerged that the entire pyramid, from those teaching the course to decision-makers, is in the wrong hands – or infected, if one chooses to use the language of computers.

This newspaper has found that the head of the board of studies for the course – Professor Tushar Desai – apparently does not have the requisite credentials. Prof Desai is a physics scholar who also holds the post of principal at DG Ruparel College, Matunga. He has got MSc and PhD degrees in physics.

Prof Desai has been the chairman of the BoS, which was created on an ad hoc basis, since 2012. As per the Maharashtra Universities Act 1994, BoS is responsible for designing the curriculum, deciding on text and reference books, recommending names of paper-setters, examiners, moderators, and chalking out broader guidelines on teaching the subject.

Considering that the future of thousands of BSc (IT) students depend on the functioning of the board, one has to fulfil a set of criteria to become a member or its chairman.

“One must have a PG degree with at least 10 years of teaching experience of the subject at postgraduate level or he/she must be an assistant director of any national lab, or a subject expert who has published a book on the core subject or three research papers in big journals,” says the Act.

Desai defended his position, saying he has the ‘expertise’ and ‘long teaching experience’ in the subject (see his interview).

“Selection of the chairman of ad-hoc BoS is being done by flouting all rules and eligibility criteria since past few years. Professors have apprised the higher-ups many times but since the top officials too are involved in the mess, no one looks at the complaints,” said a source.

Like BSc(IT), other self-financed courses of Mumbai University have ad-hoc boards, a trend for the past 14 years.

“Prof Desai may be having working knowledge of the IT field, but that doesn’t make him qualified enough to decide what thousands of students of Mumbai University need to learn in order to prepare for the job market,” said a highly placed official.

He is also an academic council member, a prestigious board which takes a call on all academic matters. The multi-tasking academician is also on the advisory committee of MJ College, Jalgaon, states the college’s website.

The rot percolates from top to bottom, said sources. “Not only chairman, even teachers of IT courses in most of colleges don’t have adequate qualification. This has led to a steep decline in the quality of education of this promising course which sells like hot cakes in the job market,” said a professor. At 30-40% of the seats in BSc (IT) in most of the colleges have remained vacant in past three years.

The university introduced the BSc (IT) course in undergraduate colleges in 2001, branding it as “self-financed” and “job-oriented”. With no government grant, most colleges offering the course have hired untrained teachers. Academicians say majority of the students have remained jobless in the four to five years.

Vice Chancellor Rajan Welukar did not respond to calls and message.

The university has called an urgent board of exam meeting today to take a call on re-examination of “software testing” paper of fifth semester of BSc IT. Approximately 16,000 students will have to sit for the exam once again. The board will also decide on punishment for the paper-setter, reportedly from the same Usha Pravin Gandhi College of Management, Vile Parle, whose internal exam paper was copy-pasted in the university exam suggesting a corruption angle.