BY TC News Desk
Agartala, August 01, 2023: In a concerning development, 78 students of the D.L.Ed (Diploma in Elementary Education) course from the minority welfare department in West Bengal’s Kharagpur Tribal B.Ed Training College have been facing difficulties in obtaining their certificates. The issue dates back to 2019 when these students were admitted with the support of the state government. However, upon the completion of their course, the college has withheld their mark sheets and certificates, leaving them in a state of uncertainty.
The students have made efforts to address the matter with the college authorities, only to discover that the certificates are being withheld due to the non-payment of their course fees by the state government. Seeking redressal, the students sought an audience with the head of the minority office, but encountered various obstacles in securing a meeting.
After persistent requests, they were finally granted the opportunity to meet the authorities on Tuesday. However, the meeting proved disheartening for the students, as the director failed to provide them with any definitive assurance. The director explained that the concerned department would need to forward the file to the finance department for the sanction of funds. Only after receiving the funds will the college authorities be able to issue the certificates. This lack of clarity has left the students anxious and uncertain about their academic future.
The students are distressed by the potential consequences of this delay. They fear that even if they successfully pass the TET (Teachers Eligibility Test) exam, they will be unable to submit their certificates and mark sheets, thereby jeopardizing their career prospects.
The ordeal has been ongoing since 2021, with the students expressing frustration over the two years lost due to this bureaucratic impasse. The lack of progress in resolving the issue has further exacerbated their grievances.
On the matter, an official from the Minorities Department cited that the problem emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, as students had returned home during the lockdown, resulting in unpaid hostel rent by the department. However, the official assured that the matter has now come to the attention of the government, and swift action is being taken to expedite the issuance of certificates and mark sheets by promptly settling the outstanding fees.
As the students await a resolution, their academic aspirations remain uncertain, and they hope for a swift and satisfactory resolution to this prolonged ordeal.
