The newly-formed Central University in Gujarat has an interesting address. The university with 30 students began its first academic session on Wednesday from Government Primary School, Sector 30, near Bhavsinh Institute of Co-operative Management, Gandhinagar.

The building had been lying unused for the last five years. The school was shut down after it failed to get the number of the students as mandated by the primary education department.

State Primary Education Department secretary R P Gupta told Newsline, “The school building had been lying vacant as it did not have the required number of students to run. So, the school was merged with another one in the area near this primary school.”

Gandhinagar Primary Education Officer A K Rathod said the school had been put to other uses too after it was closed. “Earlier, some government offices functioned from this school. But now that the school has been given to locate the Central University, it needs to be spruced up.”

Initially, the university will offer three MPhil and PhD courses. The ad-hoc university staff is now busy dusting, white-washing and cleaning three classrooms. According to the Gandhinagar education authorities, there are 10 rooms in the school with an area of around 5,000 sq ft. The university requirement is an area of around 400 acres.

Prof Raosaheb Kale, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University, said the things are on track. “In the first phase, 12 states, including Gujarat is going to have Central universities. Three more such universities are coming up in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.” He added: “Two or three government departments are involved in obtaining the permission for the land to locate the Central University. The state government is keen to help.” Pointing out that the present arrangement is temporary, he said experts will discuss about starting some more courses in life sciences.

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