Former St Stephen’s College’s principal Valson Thampu and association of alumni of the college are at loggerheads again following poor National and Accreditation and Assessment (NAAC) rankings last month. Thampu, who has blamed the college’s poor ranking on “mediocre teachers”, has been criticised by the Association of the Old Stephanians.
The association condemned Thampu’s statement and asked him to claim responsibility if any “damage” has been done to the college affecting the recently-released ranking.
Despite being one of the most-sought-after colleges in the country, the NAAC ranking of St Stephen’s College has fallen below that of Zakir Hussain College and Acharya Narendra Dev College.
“Over the years, St Stephen’s has allowed its native strengths to weaken. The faculty, barring a handful, are really mediocre. In saying this, I keep in mind my professional knowledge of the college over four decades. I have to say, many of the initiatives during my tenure were smothered by the faculty, who are so stuck in the birdlime of professional insecurity that they do not want to be exposed to academic challenges,” Thampu said in a Facebook post.
The alumni group called Thampu’s statement as “dishonest” and “misleading”.
“Thampu was principal for eight years. How can he wash his hands off responsibilityIJ His statement is dishonest and misleading. It is preposterous that a former principal blames former colleagues — not just seniors and his contemporaries, but also younger ones he recruited,” said a statement issued by the alumni group.
The alumni association has also urged the college’s Supreme Council to take immediate action in this regard.
“The Association has over the years, repeatedly pointed out how Stephanian ethos, spirit and academic excellence has been damaged severely during the tenure of Thampu,” it claimed.
Thampu demitted office last year marking end to an eight-year-long tenure which was marred by controversies and series of confrontations with the alumni.
“Stephanian ethos, spirit and academic excellence is required to be restored... The Supreme Council is therefore, requested to take immediate action to reconstitute the Governing Body and appoint credible and illustrious Alumnus as per the constitution of college. Further, a high-level committee comprising senior teachers, renowned stephanian educationists and alumni be constituted to recommend corrective action,” the association demanded.