E-Paper
UGC norms: SFS colleges in a fix
MANAGEMENTS OF many degree colleges in the self financing sector (SFS), affiliated to Chhatrapati Sahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) are in a fix. They are grappling with the problem of renewal of recognition, which has arisen due to non-fulfillment of norms fixed by the University Grant Commission (UGC) with respect to infrastructure and teaching staff.
MANAGEMENTS OF many degree colleges in the self financing sector (SFS), affiliated to Chhatrapati Sahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) are in a fix. They are grappling with the problem of renewal of recognition, which has arisen due to non-fulfillment of norms fixed by the University Grant Commission (UGC) with respect to infrastructure and teaching staff.
Each college in the SFS has to get its recognition renewed by the State government by June 31 this year. The renewal is granted only if the colleges have fulfilled all the UGC norms. The State government is not in a mood to grant any relaxation to the colleges on any pretext in connection with infrastructure and quality of teachers.
Though most colleges have the required infrastructure, appointment of qualified teachers, that too on a monthly salary of Rs 5,000, has become a big problem for them. Despite advertisements, very few qualified teachers have applied for the posts. Now the college managements are making personal efforts to find deserving teachers for their colleges.
According to some managers of SFS colleges, till last year they had engaged retired degree college teachers in each discipline and there was no objection to their appointment on any ground. But this year, the CSJMU has directed that a retired teacher with less than 55 per cent marks at graduate and post graduate levels can not be appointed in the SFS colleges.
Selection norms for teachers were different 40 years ago and even a candidate with 45 per cent marks at graduate level was appointed as teacher in a degree college, but now the same teacher is considered “unqualified” to teach graduate classes despite his long experience. Besides, any retired teacher fulfilling the existing norms is reluctant to apply for a teacher’s post in the SFS colleges as he does not want to face interviews taken by juniors.
Moreover, these retired teachers are co-opted in aided degree colleges by the management against the vacant posts at a fixed remuneration of Rs 5,000 per month without going through fresh interviews. So they seldom take interest in joining the SFS colleges located on the outskirts of the city or in rural areas.
Consequently, despite much effort, several SFS colleges have neither qualified principals nor adequate number of teachers, which is posing a threat to their very existence.
