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 | Maharashtra considers selection panel for its college teachers | | published on : 08/10/2013 | | Category : Higher Education | | MUMBAI: The state government is mulling over a plan to constitute a selection board for teachers in colleges affiliated to the universities in the state.
The idea is to increase transparency in the appointment of appointment of teachers of college teachers. The proposal, however, might face stiff opposition from colleges, as the move will be seen as an encroachment on colleges' rights.
The idea was discussed in a recent joint board of vice- chancellors' (JBVC) meeting held with the chancellor, the chief minister and the vice-chancellors of all public universities in the state. "The constitution of a selection board for teachers' appointment will help in preventing irregularities, favouritism or any unethical practices followed in the process," stated the minutes of the meeting. of the meeting.
Higher and technical education minister Rajesh Tope said that it was a proposal to bring about transparency in the appointment of teachers, no decision has been taken on the same; for now it was only a proposal. A follow-up meet on the proposals discussed at the JBVC meeting is yet to be scheduled.
The proposal, if implemented, will face stiff opposition from college managements across the state. "As per the affiliation norms, the college management is the college staff's employer, including teachers. Even government norms state that college management, in any aided college, is responsible for paying teachers' salary of teachers and that the government would only reimburse it," said a principal.
He added, "In case of norm violations too, college management is responsible for initiating disciplinary action against the teacher and not the government or the university. Such a move will only encroach on college managements' rights."
Another principal said that in aided colleges, a representative of the higher and technical education department, is also part of the selection panel; there is no hence no need for a separate selection board.
"While in unaided colleges, there are a couple of nominees of the vice-chancellor in the teachers' selection committee, in an aided college, the nominee of the joint director of higher education is additionally present. There is hardly need for a separate board," said the principal.
An official from the government claimed that such a selection board can recommend eligible candidates to colleges wherever the vacancy arises.
There have been reported cases of favouritism, irregularities, or even unethical practices in the appointment or promotion of teachers in the past. The government's move, if implemented, can do away with such practices.
Some of the states in the country do have a similar agency in place
Tamil Nadu Teachers' Recruitment Board is responsible for the recruitment of teachers in government schools and colleges.
In Maharashtra and Haryana, the service commission is responsible for appointment of teachers in government institutes.
West Bengal College Service Commission recommends teachers for affiliated colleges too | | Related Keywords : | | Higher and technical education minister Rajesh Tope said that it was a proposal to bring about transparency in the appointment of teachers, no decision has been taken on the same Strengthening of UGC rules | | Maharashtra considers selection panel for its college teachers | | published on : 08/10/2013 | | Category : Higher Education | | NEW DELHI: Strengthening of UGC rules and provisions governing higher educational institutes could well be on the cards even as a new programme approved by the government on Thursday threatens to strip the commission of its funding powers.
The need for an overhaul of the University Grants Commission (UGC) comes in the backdrop of an increased criticizm that the body is beginning to lose its sheen given the current state of higher education in the country.
The statutory organization is in charge of coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education.
"The aim would be to give more teeth to the body with the strengthening of its rules and provisions," said an official in the HRD Ministry.
Back in 2004-05, there was a proposal to amend the UGC Act, but it failed to materialise.
According to officials, the revamped body could be called as a 'higher education commission' which, unlike the existing body, would have full time members.
While it will continue to set standards and norms, its funding powers could be curtailed in keeping with the suggestions of a Yashpal Committee report which had suggested that the money giving function and the standard setting function of UGC should be separated.
UGC at present has an annual corpus of about Rs 6000 crore of which Rs 2000 crore are disbursed among the central universities.
With the implementation of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) programme, the body could well stand to lose its funding powers to the states which comes to about Rs 3500 crore.
Funding under RUSA would be directly provided by the Centre to the states.
RUSA seeks to improve the overall quality of existing state higher educational institutions by ensuring conformity to prescribed norms and standards and adoption of accreditation as a mandatory quality assurance framework. | | Related Keywords : | | Higher and technical education minister Rajesh Tope said that it was a proposal to bring about transparency in the appointment of teachers, no decision has been taken on the same Strengthening of UGC rules |
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