Colleges find conforming to UGC norms on faculty eligibility tough

[sajiv]

Colleges find conforming to UGC norms on faculty eligibility tough

TIRUCHI: Self-financing arts and science colleges in the region areapparently finding it tough to conform to the University GrantsCommission's (UGC) norm on faculty eligibility for lectureship.


Making over 80 per cent of the faculties on their rolls clear theNational Eligibility Test or complete their doctorates as per thelatest UGC norms by the start of 2011-12 academic year seems to be atall order for them. Loss of jobs for college teachers without NETqualification in the State of Maharastra is seen as a veritableforewarning. In fact, the predicament of aided colleges is no betterwith regard to self-financing programmes they offer.


According to reliable sources, there could be a rude jolt to thecolleges in two years time by when all their faculties must necessarilyconform to the eligibility guidelines to continue in their profession.Else, many are certain to lose the university affiliation for thecourse, managements apprehend.                
Saving grace                                                                                             The saving grace is that the managements which earlier did notdisplay any qualms in appointing candidates with just a post-graduatequalification for handling UG or even PG classes are now looking for anadditional M. Phil qualification while making new appointments.Nevertheless, it may not make much of a difference in the long run.


To be on the safer side, private college managements have beenroping in teachers with doctorate qualification retiring fromgovernment and aided colleges for tidy sums. As per the norms of theBharathidasan University, these teachers retiring at the age of 58years can hold faculty positions in private colleges till they attain65 years of age.


The fact, however, is that in very many cases, their names are, ofcourse, found in the college register, but most of the work load fallson the existing teachers, many of whom do not conform to the UGCguidelines. The managements are also in the habit of maintainingregisters for 'visiting faculty,' 'guest faculty,' and 'adjunctfaculty' to ensure continuity of affiliation for the courses they runwhen the university commissions make periodic visits for evaluation.
According to a college head, conforming to UGC guidelines on facultyappointment is a "near impossibility." But then, there is no room forcomplacency either. They have no other go but to prevail upon theexisting teachers to clear the NET within the stipulated duration.
The appearance of lakhs of candidates for the NET examination in 77subjects held at 66 university centres recently was a pointer to theseriousness with which the UGC directive has been taken. Over 6,000candidates appeared for the examination in the six centres of theBharathidasan University.
"Beyond 2011-12, candidates without NET will not be considered asapproved lecturers. Colleges must seriously ensure that the UGC norm ismet with, be it existing or new faculties. Otherwise, colleges willface problems in continuation of affiliation for the courses,"Vice-Chancellor of Bharathidasan University M. Ponnavaikko said.
According to a department head of an aided college, the UGC normmust be implemented in all seriousness to ensure quality in highereducation.