Presidency students go to YouTube for practical classes as labs run out of reagents, frogs
Times of India | 29 November 2024
123 Kolkata: Presidency University's chemistry department ran out of a chemical used for laboratory experiments during practical classes of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, but there was apparently no money left for its purchase. Subsequently, a professor was compelled to show YouTube videos to the students during a practical class to demonstrate the chemical's reaction.
In the life science department too, students are being shown photos and videos during the practical classes as the supply of frogs, insects, and rats has taken a hit. Lab instruments have also been lying defunct for months due to an acute fund crunch, sources claimed.
"After the pandemic, the budget was curtailed. The regular supply of chemicals and consumables has taken a hit," said a source, adding, "the department has recently ordered the exhausted chemical." According to a professor, who wished to be quoted as anonymous, fund crunch had been a continuous problem in the university. In many cases, professors are themselves paying for the frogs, rats, lab consumables, and chemicals so that students can do practical classes.
Professors blamed the crisis on inadequate funding from the state as well as the central govts. They alleged some crucial research grants were curtailed. Presidency University recently proposed a fee restructuring to tide over the fund crisis. "In the physics practical classes, there are only demonstrations. We are not able to do hands-on experiments as there is a dearth of funds," said a student.
Teachers said funds for fieldwork and excursions had been slashed also. "The university did not grant Rs 15,000 for a six-day excursion for 70 life science department students when a teacher approached the authorities," said a professor.
A scanning electron microscope used for PG teaching and PhD research has been lying defunct at the geology department for months. "We need to buy a new scanning electron microscope, which will cost more than Rs 8 lakh. But there is shortage of money, so we are looking for other ways, like contributions from alumni, to arrange funds for its procurement," said a senior professor.
He pointed out that it is getting difficult to manage day-to-day activities at the laboratories and the departments. "We contribute a portion of the money that we earn from consultancy to the department pool so that the funds needed for buying essential things and repairing instruments can be managed," said a geology department professor. Many teachers opined that teaching and research at the arts faculty was the worst-hit. "We discontinued the use of sophisticated software to check plagiarism due to the fund scarcity. It is a major problem for humanities and liberal arts departments," said a senior professor.
Professors pointed out that teachers of Presidency used to get a grant, worth around lakhs, based on their position, which aided the research works. But the grant was stopped, professors alleged, adding that the university now gives them "meagre" amounts, which aren't sufficient to fund research. TOI tried to reach registrar Debajyoti Konar, but he remained unavailable for comments on the issue. However, a senior official said the university had been exploring all options to maintain the expenditure for the academic excellence of the institution.