Hyderabad: 13-point system decreases hiring

Hyderabad: Recruitment of faculty in colleges has stopped due to the new rules of the 13-point roster system pending in the Supreme Court, and the implementation of the 25 per cent increase in seats in central universities for economically backward classes.

The number of students will increase by an estimated 375 in central universities because of the additional quota. This will require more faculty and infrastructure.

A senior professor who did not want to be named said that for every 10 students there must be one professor; that is the ratio followed in central universities.

“With the government not able to recruit because of the 13-point roster system being challenged in the court, things are at a standstill. We are now going to have more students but not enough faculty, which will be a challenge.”

In terms of infrastructure, bigger classrooms, more computers, laboratories, and hostel accommodation will be required.

The University Grants Commission has asked every university to draw up a department- wise requirement and send it in. This has become necessary as the department and not the university as a whole has become the unit under the new system.

The department wise requirement would mean at least one or two professors for each existing one depending on the strength of the students. With about 30 departments in most universities, the faculty demand is going to be high.

“The government has asked for the requirement but the academic year will start by July. Will there be faculty recruitment and increased infrastructure by then?” asked another professor.

The professor continued, “There is a lot of confusion as it is not known how the situation will be managed with so many students. On top of that, there is also bitterness as the faculty is now being pitted against each other for the reservation issues. There is fear that under the new 13-point roster system, reservation will not be according to the earlier system and the representation of backward classes will be reduced. This is creating ill-will.”

With legal petitions filed against the new quota in various courts in India, universities are not able to prepare the yearly plan for the academic year 2019-20 which is carried out in the months of February and March.