Faculty Members Oppose Introduction of CCTV Cameras in Classrooms of IIT Bombay
Some of the professors felt that the installation of cameras in classrooms would be an intrusion to the free teaching and learning process.
Around 300 CCTV cameras have been installed on the campus of Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in the past few months. The objective of the institute is to track unlawful activities on the campus. Various incidents that took place in the past have prompted the institute to install security cameras. CCTV cameras have been installed in auditoriums, hostels, laboratories, academic area, entry and exit points.
Everything was fine until the management installed surveillance cameras in classrooms and common rooms in hostels. Some of the professors felt that the installation of cameras in classrooms would be an intrusion to the free teaching and learning process. On the other hand, IIT-Bombay clarified that these installations have made under the first phase, and the second phase will start soon.
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One of the professors expressed that classrooms are the places where both students and professors interact freely. Therefore, constant monitoring will make professors remain guarded. The move taken by the institute will disable the professors to express their opinions freely.
One of the officials of the institute indicated that installing security cameras would ultimately have positive effects. Nowadays, most of the students own several expensive gadgets, and many outsiders might be involved in thefts. Therefore, by installing CCTV cameras, it is easy to trace the misplaced things. An authorized person will only have access to the footage of these cameras.
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Another professor revealed that there have not been any unfavourable incidents within the classrooms so far. There are 24 smaller classrooms and eight large auditoriums where CCTV cameras have been installed, which is unnecessary. On the other hand, there are multiple cameras in large classrooms. He further added that there is no need to monitor the classes, and these cameras will have prominence majorly near the entry and exit points.