No smooth-sailing for UGC reforms

Updated on: Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The implementation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations 2010 seems to have run into rough weather in Kerala following opposition from certain quarters. The government had approved the UGC regulations on minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges, and measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education through an order issued on December 10.

In its directive sent to all the universities and all sections of the Higher Education Department, the government had pointed out that the regulations will come in to force with effect from September 18, 2010, the date of publication of the regulations in the Government of India gazette.

All the universities were told to incorporate the UGC regulations in their statutes and regulations within one month. The government had pointed out that it will initiate steps to amend the Acts of various universities, if required to implement the regulations. The government had also made it clear that it will take measures to amend the special rules to give effect to the stipulations of the UGC regulations.

Exactly a week after the government issued an order ratifying the UGC regulations, the Principal Secretary, Higher Education, came up with another order staying the implementation of the provisions regarding the constitution of the selection committee for the post of Assistant Professor under the UGC Regulations 2010.

Explaining that it was found that the selection process for filling up the 1,599 posts of Assistant Professors had been completed or are in its final stages in accordance with the direct payment agreement and existing statutes, the Higher Education Department observed that the process would have to be cancelled, if the method of appointment is given retrospective effect.

“This may result in much hardship to all concerned”, the order issued on December 17 said. The department allowed the private college managements to fill the posts of Assistant Professors in accordance with the direct payment agreement and existing university statutes.

Reliable sources in the Higher Education Department told The Hindu-EducationPlus that the government was forced to halt the implementation of the provisions regarding the constitution of the selection committee for the post of Assistant Professor following opposition from organisations like the NSS, SNDP, and various Muslim managements.

These bodies had protested against the implementation of the regulations pointing that it would curtail their rights in teacher recruitment. Sources said that the government did not want to invite the wrath of these sections and decided to halt the implementation of the provisions temporarily.

The organisations had opposed the UGC regulation stating that the selection committee would comprise two nominees of the Vice-Chancellor of the affiliating university of whom one should be a subject expert. They had also voiced protest against the regulation stating that the committee will have two subject-experts not connected with the college to be nominated by the Chairperson of the governing body of the college out of a panel of five names recommended by the Vice-Chancellor from the list of subject experts approved by the relevant statutory body of the university concerned.

Another provision that evoked protests from various organisation is that the selection committee will have two subject experts not connected with the university to be nominated by the chairperson of the governing body of the college out of the panel of five names, preferably from minority communities, recommended by the Vice-Chancellor from the list of subject experts approved by the relevant statutory body of the college in case of colleges notified/declared as minority educational Institutions.

The UGC regulations also pointed out that the committee for recruitment of Assistant Professors in minority colleges will have two nominees of the Chairperson of the college from out of a panel of five names, preferably from minority communities, recommended by the Vice-Chancellor of the affiliating university from the list of experts suggested by the relevant statutory body of the college, of whom one should be a subject expert.

Teachers organisations like the All Kerala Private College Teachers' Association pointed out that these regulation would unduly help the minority educational institutions to appoint teachers according to their whims and fancies overlooking merit and social justice even when the salary for these teachers are paid from the State exchequer.

A resolution moved by the association and adopted by the general council of All India Federation of University and College Teachers' Organisations at its academic conference held at Jalgaon in Maharashtra from November 19 to 21 said that these provisions in the regulations would create a lot of problems in the State, as many colleges are run by minority communities. The UGC regulations also said that selection committee for the post of Associate Professor in private colleges will have two university representatives nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, one of whom will be the Dean of College Development Council or equivalent position in the university and the other must be expert in the subject concerned.

In case of colleges notified/declared as minority educational institutions, there will be two nominees of the Chairperson of the college from out of a panel of five names, preferably from minority communities, recommended by the Vice-Chancellor of the affiliating university from the list of experts suggested by the relevant statutory body of the college of whom one should be a subject expert.

The selection committee will also have two subject-experts not connected with the college to be nominated by the chairperson of the governing body of the college out of a panel of five names recommended by the Vice-Chancellor from the list of subject experts approved by the relevant statutory body of the university concerned.

In case of colleges notified/declared as minority educational institutions, the committee will have two subject experts not connected with the university to be nominated by the chairperson of the governing body of the college out of the panel of five names, preferably from minority communities, recommended by the Vice-Chancellor from the list of subject experts approved by the relevant statutory body of the college.

The UGC regulations recommended that the overall selection procedure should incorporate transparent, objective and credible methodology of analysis of the merits and credentials of the applicants based on weightage given to the performance of the candidate in different relevant dimensions. The performance should be analysed on the basis of a scoring system proforma included in the academic performance indicators (APIs) mentioned in the regulations.

The commission suggested that universities may assess the ability for teaching and/or research aptitude through a seminar or lecture in a classroom situation or discussion on the capacity to use latest technology in teaching and research at the interview stage to ensure the credibility of the system. The UGC Regulations also recommended that the academic performance indicator scoring system in the process of selection of Principal will be similar to that of directly recruited college professors.

The commission has asked the universities and colleges to set up Internal Quality Assurance Cell as per the UGC/ National Assessment Accreditation Council (NAAC) guidelines with the Vice-Chancellor, as Chairperson , and Principal, as Chairperson (in colleges).

No smooth-sailing for UGC reforms

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