Hyderabad: Universities, functioning without faculty and funds are hoping for some respite, when Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao holds his first full-fledged review meeting on Friday on the status of universities in Telangana.
The minister, officials of the higher education department and vice-chancellors of all universities have been called for the meeting. This is the first meeting convened by Mr Rao to discuss higher education and universities since he assumed office two years ago.
All the universities remained headless for two years with the government failing to appoint VCs. Though new VCs were appointed three days ago, their appointment was struck down on Thursday.
The failure of the government to sanction funds has left the varsities gasping. The meagre block grants are not even sufficient to pay salaries. This is forcing universities to use pension funds and bank deposits, bringing development and expansion activities to a halt.
While the 11 universities have 2,753 teaching posts, there are 1,504 teachers at present. Another 700 professors are expected to retire in three years.
The universities are not in a position to tap funds granted by UGC and the Centre under RUSA scheme. This is because the universities need NAAC grading for the purpose and unless there is full-fledged faculty, NAAC recognition is not possible.
