PANJIM: The Council of Architecture (COA) has turned down the request of the Goa College of Architecture to increase the intake to students from existing 40 to 80 and approved additional intake of only 20 students for five-year full-time Bachelor of Architecture degree course.
The two-member inspection committee of COA visited the colleges last month for extension of continuation of architecture programme and for increase in intake of seats.
The Goa College of Architecture had sought approval for intake of 80 students but the COA executive committee has granted approval only for 60 students with a lot of conditions.
The COA executive committee considered the assessment report of the college and found that the principal was short of experience for the appointment of the post.
The State government had earlier not accepted the recommendation of the Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC to appoint Leon Agnelo Morenas as the principal. But second time in December 2023, the GPSC recommended his name and he was appointed as the principal. Morenas joined as principal in March this year.
However, the COA has observed that the present principal is falling short of minimum experience as per the COA norms. Some Associate Professors also do not satisfy COA norms and not eligible for appointment. No appointments of teachers are ratified by a selection committee having COA nominee. For all future appointments, the COA nominee must be invited to be part of selection committee so as to ensure that the appointment of teachers meet the COA eligibility and in compliance with Council of Architecture (Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations) 2000.
The COA has asked the College to reduce the intake of the Institution of five seats every year for next six academic sessions since the Institution had made excess/illegal admission in the B Arch degree course.
Also initially 51 students were not allotted enrollment numbers by the Council of Architecture. But in June this year, 10 students were allotted enrollment numbers for the batch, who had graduated in the academic year 2023-24. Remaining 41 students still are not allotted enrollment numbers.
The COA has reiterated that the State government must shift the College to another permanent site dedicated to the Architecture College on priority as presently it is operated from four different buildings including two bungalows and four rooms in Government Polytechnic College Altinho.
The College has also been asked to frame its new syllabus immediately since it was outdated.