University of Pune tells colleges to ask teachers to clear eligibility test by December 31 or lose job
University of Pune tells colleges to ask teachers to clear eligibility test by December 31 or lose job
After the state it was the turn of University of Pune (UoP) to get tough on colleges affiliated to it. The state had asked the colleges to get accreditation so as not to lose their affiliation. Now, the UoP has also informed these colleges to serve notices to those professors, who haven't cleared the national (NET) or state eligibility tests (SET).
According to instructions issued by the UoP, all colleges have to inform such teachers to clear the tests before December 31 if they wanted to keep their jobs. A senior university official told MiD DAY that the decision was taken as over 1,000 teachers were yet to clear the qualifying exams.
"Colleges have also been warned that if they don't take this seriously and employ professors who aren't eligible, then the college would lose its affiliation to the varsity," he said.u00a0 Colleges have been asked to submit a list of those who had not passed NET or SET.
However, college principals felt it was unfair.
"There are six professors in our college who haven't cleared the tests and after getting the orders we are sending their details. Unfortunately, allu00a0 are senior staffers, and some of them have spent over 15 years in this institution. God forbid, they don't clear the eligibility tests, would it be fair to ask them to go?" asked Dr Rajendra Zunjarrao, principal of Modern College, Shivaji Nagar.
Dr Shrikant Gupta, principal of Garware College said that he also didn't agree with the harsh rules but expressed helplessness.
"We have to follow the rules set by university. It's unfortunate, as we would be losing experienced and talented professors because of a mere technicality. All their years of teaching will go down the drain and it would be difficult for us to cope with their loss as well," he lamented.
Those who agree
Many from the teaching faculty fully supported the university's move. Prof Avinash Sangavlekar, associate professor at UoP's Marathi department, said: "The UGC has been reminding teachers about clearing the test from time to time but they didn't take it seriously. Now that the university has set a deadline, there is criticism.
But with so many qualified candidates waiting, I don't think it's unfair to take such a step."
Prof Bhaskar Shejwal, head of psychology department said: "Every year there are three or four attempts given to clear the exams. Even after that people are complaining. In fact, at the time of recruitment, it was made clear to them that they would have to pass NET or SET, but they have not done it."
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