PU college lecturers, principals oppose proposal to transfer functions of DDPUs to ZP CEOs

The government’s move to transfer the functions and co-ordination powers of the Deputy Directors of Pre-University of (DDPUs) of School Education Department (Pre-Univeristy) at district level, to the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Zilla Panchyath has been strongly opposed by lecturers, principals and other staff of government PU colleges.

Alleging that the autonomy of the Department will be affected by this move, the Karnataka State Pre-University College Lecturers’ Association has written to the School Education Minister, the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary of the Department and others, demanding withdrawal of the proposal. They are planning to hold a meeting on March 8 to plan the next course of action.

Proposal submitted

The Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) recently submitted a proposal to the Finance Department (FD) to transfer certain administrative, disciplinary, financial, and coordination powers to the ZP CEOs, with the stated aim of effectively and transparently following the principles of decentralised administration.

If this proposal is approved, all functions of DDPUs will be transferred to ZP CEOs.

“The Pre-University education System is an important educational stage, which acts as a bridge between school education and higher education. The administrative functions of PU education were handled within the school education system. However, over time, the scope of PU education, the number of students, the diversity of education, and the responsibilities of administrators have increased significantly, prompting the government to create a separate directorate and establish DD offices at the district level. However, this established autonomy is not just an administrative change; it is the foundation of the independent academic identity and performance of PU education,” reads the letter by the Pre-University College Lecturers’ Association, opposing the move.

Further, it stated that the proposal to transfer the administrative control of the DDPUs to ZP CEOs is not just a general administrative change; it is a serious structural intervention affecting the very fundamental principles of the education administration system. At present, the DDPUs are functioning effectively within a coordinated, clear, and continuous administrative system under the administrative guidance of the director and joint directors of the department.

“Adding a new level of control in the midst of this stable and balanced administrative effort not only blurs the boundaries of authority, confuses the determination of responsibility, reduces the clarity of functioning, but also risks weakening coordination within the system,” it said.

Concerns of lecturers

Speaking to The Hindu, Ningegowda A.H., president, Karnataka State Pre-University College Lecturers’ Association, said, “The PU examination system has already been separated from the department and has been merged with the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board. Now, the government is moving to abolish the DDPU posts by handing over the powers to the ZP CEOs. The officials have taken this decision unilaterally without discussing it with the principals of PU colleges, lectures and any other stakeholders,” he said, adding that it will lead to “collapse of a well-functioning system”.