Summary
A college official said they would need around Rs 3 crore to develop the academic building that would have laboratories and classrooms
Scottish Church College has started a fundraising drive so it can convert the Ogilvie Hostel building into an academic block to deal with the shortage of space for classrooms and laboratories following the introduction of the four-year undergraduate programme.
A college official said they would need around Rs 3 crore to develop the academic building that would have laboratories and classrooms.
The college has closed the boys’ hostel in phases as part of the project, said principal Madhumanjari Mandal.
This is how the hostel building will look once it becomes an academic block
The UGC’s regulation on National Curriculum Framework says the departments offering a four-year UG degree (honours with research) must have the required infrastructure such as a computer lab and software, and laboratory facilities to carry out experimental research.
“Since developing a newer campus is not possible now, the college has decided to turn an existing facility into an academic building,” the principal said.
In July, Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur, had appealed to
its alumni for help so the
college could improve infrastructure for efficient implementation of the four-year UG programme.
A brochure that Scottish Church College has shared with its former students says: “With the adoption of ‘Curriculum and Credit Framework (CCF) under the ‘National Education Policy 2020’, the college is acutely facing the problem of shortage of space for classrooms and laboratories. To address this, the Council of Scottish Church College has considered converting the Ogilvie Hostel Building for the purpose of teaching-learning. This is also in consonance with the fact that the boarders (residents) in the hostel over the years have decreased significantly.”
“To support the cause, we earnestly request our alumni, friends of the college and well-wishers to contribute towards the development of Ogilvie Building and be a part of this noble initiative by the institution.”
The potential contributors have been requested to contact the principal.
“The governing body of the college has taken a decision to develop Ogilvie Hostel into classrooms, laboratories and a library. These facilities have to be expanded. While the college council will provide support, we are also appealing to the former students to contribute” she told Metro.
A college official said Ogilvie Hostel was constructed, in Hartaki Bagan Lane, in 1914.
It was named after Dr Ogilvie, who was the first principal of General Assembly’s Institution. Scottish Church College was established in 1830 as General Assembly’s Institution and got its present name in 1929.
The principals of many colleges have urged Calcutta University to plead with the state government or the UGC for funds to set up infrastructure for the four-year undergraduate programme.
Education minister Bratya Basu had told this newspaper in a text message on March 6: “If you look at reputable institutions across the world, you will find that they collect donations from various organisations and alumni. This money is used to fund various research and educational work. The government has limited resources, which is not enough to unlock the enormous potential for educational and research work.”
Last updated on 14 Nov 2023
