Bangalore University Task Force on teacher education (simply known as BU Task Force) is a high-power committee founded in May 2012 to inspect the quality and functioning of teacher education colleges under Bangalore University. The Task Force, chaired by the university's Academic Council Member H. Karan Kumar, submitted an interim report on the quality and functioning of seven M.Ed. colleges during August 2012, which was unanimously accepted by the Academic Council in its meeting held on 29 August 2012.
The Task Force recommended that the admission of students to all the seven M.Ed. colleges be suspended for the academic year 2012 - 2013. Also, a 205-page interim report on the quality & functioning of ninety-nine Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.) colleges was submitted by the Task Force during November 2012, which was unanimously approved by both the Academic Council and the Syndicate during their meetings held on 30 November 2012, and 12 & 17 December 2012 respectively. The report recommended disaffiliation of fifty-five B.Ed. colleges for gross irregularities in academic, administrative functioning and non-compliance with National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) norms. The Task Force was functional until 30 June 2013.
Status of Teacher Education that led to the Constitution of Task Force
Prior to the formation of Task Force, Mr. Karan Kumar H., the Academic Council Member of Bangalore University, submitted a report on the status of teacher education under Bangalore University to the Vice Chancellor during February 2012, based on a survey conducted between December 2011 and February 2012. Apart from infrastructure flaws, the survey recorded gross non-adherence to rules concerning the way academic programmes and admissions were conducted. Also, 80 per cent of the colleges were not conducting academic programs according to procedures. After interactions with Local Inquiry Committees (LICs), it was found that neither the students nor the staff were present during the LIC's visit.
In the survey period, Karan collated information from seven experts, including Dr Sameer K Simha (retired lecturer), Dr R Nagarajaiah and Dr Gururaj Karajagi (Chairperson of Academy of Creative Teaching).
Constitution
Former Vice-Chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev ordered the constitution of the task force in May, following pressure from various academic quarters to fix the allegations of gross irregularities, malpractices and falling educational standards in teacher education colleges under the university. "The Task Force is authorised to undertake surprise inspection of the colleges to obtain first-hand information regarding the conduct of BEd and MEd courses. It may inspect admissions, attendance, appointments of teachers, internal assessment marks and other aspects," the Vice-Chancellor's order stated.
The academic council that met thrice in July 2012 deliberated, in detail, on LIC (Local Inquiry Committee) Reports of Academic Year 2012–13, including reports of B.Ed. Colleges. With due consent of each and every Chairperson of the LICs, the Academic Council unanimously resolved to set aside all LIC Reports of B.Ed. Colleges for deficiencies and lack of information to grant affiliation for the academic year 2012–13 (the LIC is an internal university committee that is constituted to inspect the academic viability of colleges before granting fresh/renewal of affiliations). The Academic Council also resolved unanimously to additionally request the BU Task Force to take up the responsibility of submitting its recommendations on grant of affiliation or disaffiliation to the university. For the same, it gave the Task Force 3 months time with a direction to submit its interim report on renewal of affiliation / disaffiliation of B.Ed. Colleges for the academic year 2012–13.
This was followed by Karan Kumar and his team paying surprise visits to various B.Ed. and Master of Education (M.Ed.) colleges. During the course of its surprise visits, the Task Force interacted with Principals, Faculty and students of most of the colleges and video recorded the proceedings to show the abject lack of standards in the colleges that were inspected. Several instances of colleges indulging in malpractices were also exposed before the media.
Interim Reports
The Task Force has submitted two reports so far. In August 2012, the first report was based on seven M.Ed. colleges under Bangalore University. The report was upheld in the academic council meeting, where it was decided to cancel management quota admissions in these colleges. NCTE issued show-cause notices to the colleges in September 2012.