DPI asks colleges to promote use of library among students

Amritsar, July 20

Reacting to a letter issued by the Director, Public Instructions (DPI), Colleges, on July 17, that directs colleges to improve the use of college libraries, the Association of United College Teachers (AUCT), Punjab and Chandigarh, has questioned the intent and content of the letter.

The letter mentions to improve the use of college libraries in teachers’ presence which would be overseen by their biometric attendance. The letter asks principals to review reading of their teachers on Saturdays in the specified 45 minutes.

Objecting to the provision of the biometric attendance and review of teachers’ reading, an AUCT spokesperson, Tarun Ghai, said building reading culture or library culture was good, but it should focus on students rather than teachers.

“The intent should be to focus on getting students to libraries and making them a centre for academic or social activity. But the content of the letter seems to be targeting teachers, making their biometric attendance in library and reading reviews a mandatory exercise,” he said.

“The teaching faculty, with their qualifications of PhD or above, are already well read and familiar with books. This seems to be a way to harass or further keep a watch on teachers by empowering managements to undermine or scrutinise anyone, who doesn’t comply,” he said.

He said the letter asks colleges to upload all details of the library activities on their respective website for the perusal by the DPI’s office. “Again, the question arises, can you force teachers or students to read,” he said.

The letter further suggests creating library groups and committees to further create social media reading groups in order to engage students in reading activities. It also mentions giving assignments by colleges to students based on their library engagement.