Trichy: It is an annual ritual to see new undergraduate or postgraduate courses being started in government colleges, but the sanctioning of MSc Biochemistry has left the teachers of Periyar EVR College stunned. With no demand being put forward by the college for the course, the needle of suspicion has pointed to a section of teachers whose purpose it is believed to serve — to get transfers to their home towns.The higher education department had recently announced MSc Biochemistry in Periyar EVR College as one among the 264 new courses introduced across government colleges. Needless to say that the announcement left the college teachers puzzled as the college council had not made any request to the higher education department. Besides, the practice was to allot a particular PG degree course only where there was a UG course offered too. The college doesn’t offer BSc in biochemistry but the course approval has come for PG course !Highly placed sources in the directorate of collegiate education said that a couple of government college teachers from Thanjavur and Chennai from the biochemistry department had managed to include the course for Periyar EVR college by influencing senior officials in the higher education department. A senior faculty member from the college confirmed to TOI that these teachers from Thanjavur and Chennai had asked him to recommend the course for the college. This was to facilitate their transfer to Periyar EVR College.What was even more surprising was that the work on construction of two dedicated classrooms to accommodate the yet-to-be-admitted students of biochemistry had already begun, said the faculty member.“The college has been reeling under shortage of classrooms over several months forcing the teachers to take combined classes. Only recently, a building was sanctioned and the construction work is under way,” said another faculty member from the college.“Senior officials from the PWD carried out inspection a few days ago for the construction of two classrooms following sanction of funds from the state government. Such things have never happened in the past,” added a senior faculty member from the college.Not a single student has shown interest in joining the newly started MSc biochemistry programme so far. However, terming the teachers lobby as unconfirmed reports, principal of Periyar EVR College, I Julie said that “we are only following the instructions from director of collegiate education.”She said that students might be hesitant to join such courses, especially in government colleges, as such courses were unconventional and interdisciplinary.“However, the last date to apply for the course is August 3 and we will wait till then for applications. Besides, there were chances of students who did not get other similar courses opting for biochemistry, she said. Director of collegiate education B S Santhi could not be reached despite repeated attempts.

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