In a gross violation of University Grants Commission (UGC) norms for running Integrated Master Degree (IMD) of five year course in Chemistry and Commerce without creating proper infrastructure by MBB University of Tripura, the future of about 150 students are in total dark and uncertainty over their future and after completion of three years course, the varsity authorities are denying to give the Under-Graduate (UG) or graduate certificate.

Sources said that the MBB University of Tripura in 2019 has introduced IMD courses in Chemistry and Commerce, while the BBM College of Agartala was put in charge of IMD in Commerce while the MBB College was put in charge of Chemistry. The University has introduced these courses without creating proper infrastructure and in violation of University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines. While, this year there has been no admission to these courses.

Sources close to MBB University said that admission for IMD both in Chemistry and Commerce has been stopped, but denied to give any suitable answer over the future of 150 students, which are in total uncertainty.

According to UGC guidelines a university can launch IMD in any subject provided the same has been taught at the post-graduate level for a minimum of five years with degree awarded to students. But the MBB University did not have any course in Chemistry or Commerce at the masters’ level. But defying all suggestions, they had introduced the IMD in Chemistry and Commerce in the year 2019 by defying all UGC guidelines as well as without any proper infrastructure.

Apart from the critical shortage of teachers, no infrastructure like laboratory facilities, instrumental labs and proper space have been created over the past three years. This has put the teachers of both the subjects , especially Chemistry in serious trouble as they have to take 26-27 classes at the college level per week and in addition there are at least 10/12 classes for the IMD in Chemistry at the university level. The position is almost the same in regard to teachers of chemistry and what is most bizarre is that the teachers have not got any paper or appointment for taking PG classes as part of an IMD course, nor any extra remuneration. According to UGC guidelines a college teacher has to take 21-24 classes per week but be burdened with extra and payless PG classes in IMD courses.

As a result, after the passing of three years, the UGC so far did not give its affiliation for IMD courses in Chemistry and Commerce, so now about 150 students are continuously knocking doors of the University to get their UG certificate. After repeated visits, they were refused to give certificates saying the computer system of the varsity is not working properly.

In the present condition the batch of students who will take the final IMD PG exam may not even get their appropriate degrees and even if they get, it will be unrecognized.

Sources said that on Monday (November 20), the MBB University authority had called a meeting with the authorities of both MBB and BBM College and held detailed discussion to protect the future of all IMD students and over appointment of new teachers, but authorities did not highlight the core issue of UGC affiliation.

Sources added that three students of IMD courses have managed to get admission in Tripura University for PG course by giving under-taking, but the rest of the students are still facing uncertainty over their future.

So far, this year there has been no admission to the IMD courses in Chemistry and Commerce in the MBB University because the students have realized that they will have no future with their unrecognized and invalid degrees. Tripura Central University (TCU) , despite its solid infrastructure and much higher resources, is yet to open IMD courses in Chemistry and Commerce. But the state government and its Higher Education department seem to be blissfully unaware of the problem created by the IMD courses in MBB University.