E-surveillance for govt colleges
Education department pulls up its socks to improve education in government-run colleges; will install CCTV cameras in every classroom to monitor lectures so that teachers do not skip classes citing poor attendance
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, January 08, 2013 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/201301082013010803090094164e3f640/Esurveillance-for-govt-colleges.html)
The CCTV cameras will be configured with a suitable IP address. The goings-on in the classrooms can be monitored by college principals and education dept officials
Having done enough introspection after government engineering colleges affiliated to GTU posted a pass percentage lower than the average 27 per cent of 97 colleges last year, the education department has decided to put its ideas into action. As a first step, the department will install CCTV cameras in the classrooms and laboratories of not only government-run polytechnic and engineering institutes but also arts, science and commerce colleges. The goings-on in the classrooms will be monitored by school principals as well as higher officials in the education department since these cameras will be configured with a suitable IP address.
NO BUNKING CLASSES
This means teachers can no longer skip lectures under the pretext that students do not attend the class. Also, since 70 per cent attendance has been made compulsory for the students, even they will have to attend lectures. The poor results recorded by government colleges last year had the department worried, say sources. This, because highly-qualified teachers have been employed for a monthly salary of more than Rs 1 lakh. Even parents of students in government colleges, particularly those in the remote areas, have been extremely critical of the teaching system, saying it is virtually non-existent and hence the poor results. There are 16 government colleges for engineering, 27 for polytechnic courses and 73 for arts, science and commerce courses in the state. Education department officials say that for the past several years they have been receiving complaints that teachers do not take lectures or conduct practicals regularly. Even library and other facilities are underutilised and hence the quality of education takes a beating.
Education dept officials will also be able to monitor the lectures in govt colleges
WILL CHECK VIOLENCE, MALPRACTICES
Giving a thumbs up to the new idea, the officials opine that IP-video surveillance system will also check exam malpractices and incidents of violence on campuses. R J Joshi, Director, Technical Education, said, “High-definition surveillance system in the classrooms will put an end to the blame-game between teachers and students. Teachers will have to mandatorily conduct lectures and students will have to attend these. College principals and education department officials will monitor the lectures. Also, it will give a sense of security to students, particularly the girls. With passage of time, the effort will definitely have an impact on the education imparted in the government colleges.”
“The project will be implemented within six months and a tender has been issued for the same. Each college has been allocated Rs 10 lakh for the project,” he added. The recordings will be available for seven working days so that in case of any complaint, the footages can be monitored and action taken. Simultaneously, surprise inspections will also be carried out. “Technology is being put to good use. We have been interacting with college principals through video onferencing. Now, with surveillance cameras in classrooms, staff rooms, libraries and laboratories, the goings- on in the colleges will be monitored, thus facilitating greater communication between the colleges and the department.,“ said a source in the education department. “Over a period of time, we are optimistic that government colleges will deliver results on a par with selffinanced colleges,” he added. The department has also directed the schools to implement the surveillance system that will allow Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board to check exam malpractices.
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, January 08, 2013 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/201301082013010803090094164e3f640/Esurveillance-for-govt-colleges.html)
The CCTV cameras will be configured with a suitable IP address. The goings-on in the classrooms can be monitored by college principals and education dept officials
Having done enough introspection after government engineering colleges affiliated to GTU posted a pass percentage lower than the average 27 per cent of 97 colleges last year, the education department has decided to put its ideas into action. As a first step, the department will install CCTV cameras in the classrooms and laboratories of not only government-run polytechnic and engineering institutes but also arts, science and commerce colleges. The goings-on in the classrooms will be monitored by school principals as well as higher officials in the education department since these cameras will be configured with a suitable IP address.
NO BUNKING CLASSES
This means teachers can no longer skip lectures under the pretext that students do not attend the class. Also, since 70 per cent attendance has been made compulsory for the students, even they will have to attend lectures. The poor results recorded by government colleges last year had the department worried, say sources. This, because highly-qualified teachers have been employed for a monthly salary of more than Rs 1 lakh. Even parents of students in government colleges, particularly those in the remote areas, have been extremely critical of the teaching system, saying it is virtually non-existent and hence the poor results. There are 16 government colleges for engineering, 27 for polytechnic courses and 73 for arts, science and commerce courses in the state. Education department officials say that for the past several years they have been receiving complaints that teachers do not take lectures or conduct practicals regularly. Even library and other facilities are underutilised and hence the quality of education takes a beating.
Education dept officials will also be able to monitor the lectures in govt colleges
WILL CHECK VIOLENCE, MALPRACTICES
Giving a thumbs up to the new idea, the officials opine that IP-video surveillance system will also check exam malpractices and incidents of violence on campuses. R J Joshi, Director, Technical Education, said, “High-definition surveillance system in the classrooms will put an end to the blame-game between teachers and students. Teachers will have to mandatorily conduct lectures and students will have to attend these. College principals and education department officials will monitor the lectures. Also, it will give a sense of security to students, particularly the girls. With passage of time, the effort will definitely have an impact on the education imparted in the government colleges.”
“The project will be implemented within six months and a tender has been issued for the same. Each college has been allocated Rs 10 lakh for the project,” he added. The recordings will be available for seven working days so that in case of any complaint, the footages can be monitored and action taken. Simultaneously, surprise inspections will also be carried out. “Technology is being put to good use. We have been interacting with college principals through video onferencing. Now, with surveillance cameras in classrooms, staff rooms, libraries and laboratories, the goings- on in the colleges will be monitored, thus facilitating greater communication between the colleges and the department.,“ said a source in the education department. “Over a period of time, we are optimistic that government colleges will deliver results on a par with selffinanced colleges,” he added. The department has also directed the schools to implement the surveillance system that will allow Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board to check exam malpractices.
