A puzzling administrative lapse at the Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University (TNTEU) has left over three lakh teachers, who successfully completed their B.Ed courses, waiting for their degree certificates for an astonishing three years. The reason for this delay? Surprisingly, the TNTEU has been without a functional printer to print out these certificates!
A TNIE report indicates that TNTEU failed to provide convocation certificates to students from 650 colleges belonging to the 2018-19, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021 batches due to its inability to print the certificates. Sources have revealed that TNTEU recently procured printers at a cost of ₹30 lakh, assuring that the certificates will be issued without further delay.
Speaking to TNIE, an assistant professor from a government B.Ed college expressed frustration over this prolonged delay, pointing out the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) instruction in 2022 to award degrees within 180 days of declaring results. TNTEU’s three-year lag in complying with this directive reflects, in their view, a lethargic attitude and inefficient administration.
The university has also been grappling with a vacant vice-chancellor post for the past two years, contributing to the delays and administrative shortcomings. Students and graduates have been greatly affected by this unfortunate situation, with job seekers facing particular difficulties.
The principal of a private B.Ed college shared that graduates have been making relentless inquiries to institutions, seeking their long-overdue degree certificates. The delay has also had tangible consequences for job seekers, as several private schools have reportedly reduced teacher salaries by 50% for those lacking their degree certificates.
C. Vidhya, a B.Ed graduate from 2019-2020, spoke to TNIE and recounted her struggles in job interviews, where her provisional certificate was insufficient to secure a teaching position. She noted that one school had rejected her application solely due to the absence of her B.Ed degree certificate. The situation is echoed by P. Roslin, who completed her B.Ed in 2020-2021, expressing the hardships graduates face when attending certificate verification processes for government job applications after successfully passing competitive exams.
In response to these concerns, TNTEU’s Vice-Chancellor Committee member, P. Natesan, stated that steps were initiated a few months ago to acquire printers. The process of printing degree certificates has now been finalized, and these certificates are expected to be delivered to 650 colleges, encompassing both government and aided institutions, by 31 October 2023.
(With inputs from TNIE)
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