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Hyderabad: The delay in bifurcation of the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University has hit the recruitment process really hard in the university.
The varsity now has just one professor as against 10 sanctioned posts. This apart, more than half of the posts in the university have been lying vacant for several years. While the university has 60 teaching posts sanctioned, of which 34 are vacant. Under the Career Advancement Scheme, five associate professors are waiting to be promoted as professors. Even if they are promoted, there will be four vacancies remaining.
Officials attribute the delay in recruitment to the bifurcation of the varsity, which has been pending since 2014. They said the varsity, which has been listed in the 10th schedule of the Andhra Pradesh Re-Organisation Act, is yet to be bifurcated among Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States. Presently, the university has one centre in Warangal of Telangana and campuses in Srisailam, Rajahmundry and Kuchipudi campus in Andhra Pradesh.
A senior official of the university said both the governments were yet to take a decision on bifurcation of the university. “We are giving services to the campuses in Andhra Pradesh and they are paying salaries of the employees,” the official said.
The university is offering a wide range of courses like certificate, postgraduate, PG Diploma and PhD Courses. Courses like MCJ, PhD in Journalism, MA Jyothisham and Folk Arts are a few courses that are popular. On the other hand, the delay is taking a toll on the academics, according to students.
“We have one dean who takes class and goes away. The university has appointed instructors who take classes for us. We have the same knowledge as what instructors have. If permanent faculty is appointed, we can learn the subject. We are losing interest in the subject,” lamented J Karunakar, a second year Folk Arts student.
He said the students had represented to the university on several occasions regarding appointment of permanent faculty in the department. “The administration has responded positively to our requests,” Karunakar said.
Prof S V Satyanarayana, the Vice-Chancellor, said the government had asked for information on faculty requirement. “We have given the details and government may soon take a decision on the recruitment,” he said.
Plans on to retirement age
The State government is likely to raise the age of superannuation of university teachers to 62 years. Presently, the State’s varsity teachers retire at 60 years. The enhancement of superannuation has been a long pending demand of teachers in the universities.
The University Grants Commission had enhanced the age to 65 years in its regulations in 2010. Several states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra had enhanced the age of superannuation to 62 years.
This move by the government would help departments retain senior professors for at least two more years. Presently, a majority of departments in the universities are facing serious senior faculty crunch.
“If the age of superannuation is enhanced, teachers who were recruited in the recent past would get the guidance of senior teachers which will help in the development of departments of the Universities in terms of teaching and research and the overall quality of higher education,” said a professor of Osmania University.
The Osmania University Teachers’ Association (OUTA) urged the government to enhance the age of superannuation to 65. “By 2019, professors in the university will retire. By extending five years, teachers who were recruited in 2007, will be promoted as professors by the time the present professors attain superannuation,” reasoned Prof. B Satyanarayana, President, OUTA.
The varsity now has just one professor as against 10 sanctioned posts. This apart, more than half of the posts in the university have been lying vacant for several years. While the university has 60 teaching posts sanctioned, of which 34 are vacant. Under the Career Advancement Scheme, five associate professors are waiting to be promoted as professors. Even if they are promoted, there will be four vacancies remaining.
Officials attribute the delay in recruitment to the bifurcation of the varsity, which has been pending since 2014. They said the varsity, which has been listed in the 10th schedule of the Andhra Pradesh Re-Organisation Act, is yet to be bifurcated among Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States. Presently, the university has one centre in Warangal of Telangana and campuses in Srisailam, Rajahmundry and Kuchipudi campus in Andhra Pradesh.
A senior official of the university said both the governments were yet to take a decision on bifurcation of the university. “We are giving services to the campuses in Andhra Pradesh and they are paying salaries of the employees,” the official said.
The university is offering a wide range of courses like certificate, postgraduate, PG Diploma and PhD Courses. Courses like MCJ, PhD in Journalism, MA Jyothisham and Folk Arts are a few courses that are popular. On the other hand, the delay is taking a toll on the academics, according to students.
“We have one dean who takes class and goes away. The university has appointed instructors who take classes for us. We have the same knowledge as what instructors have. If permanent faculty is appointed, we can learn the subject. We are losing interest in the subject,” lamented J Karunakar, a second year Folk Arts student.
He said the students had represented to the university on several occasions regarding appointment of permanent faculty in the department. “The administration has responded positively to our requests,” Karunakar said.
Prof S V Satyanarayana, the Vice-Chancellor, said the government had asked for information on faculty requirement. “We have given the details and government may soon take a decision on the recruitment,” he said.
Plans on to retirement age
The State government is likely to raise the age of superannuation of university teachers to 62 years. Presently, the State’s varsity teachers retire at 60 years. The enhancement of superannuation has been a long pending demand of teachers in the universities.
The University Grants Commission had enhanced the age to 65 years in its regulations in 2010. Several states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra had enhanced the age of superannuation to 62 years.
This move by the government would help departments retain senior professors for at least two more years. Presently, a majority of departments in the universities are facing serious senior faculty crunch.
“If the age of superannuation is enhanced, teachers who were recruited in the recent past would get the guidance of senior teachers which will help in the development of departments of the Universities in terms of teaching and research and the overall quality of higher education,” said a professor of Osmania University.
The Osmania University Teachers’ Association (OUTA) urged the government to enhance the age of superannuation to 65. “By 2019, professors in the university will retire. By extending five years, teachers who were recruited in 2007, will be promoted as professors by the time the present professors attain superannuation,” reasoned Prof. B Satyanarayana, President, OUTA.