Remorse: Vacancies in Colleges creating hurdles for students
Srinagar: Signifying the sluggishness of the authorities, as many as 1000 posts of teaching faculty and Principals in degree colleges are lying vacant in the higher education department.
The vacancies in degree colleges have led to a crisis like situation with respect to the availability of the teaching staff for students in the higher educational institutions.
As per official figures, around 949 posts are lying vacant against the sanctioned strength of 3700 posts in colleges.
“Only 2700 out of over 3700 sanctioned posts including that of newly established colleges have been filled till date out of which 1600 posts were filled during the year 2016 -17,” an official said.
He said 800 posts of teachers are vacant in various colleges due to which 40 percent staff in colleges has been hired on contract basis for teaching the students.
“Most of the colleges are understaffed which has made it very difficult for the department to run the academic affairs in colleges,” the official said. He said the department has hired nearly 3600 contractual teachers in colleges- 2200 in Jammu division and 1400 in Kashmir division for staff deficient colleges.
“The department has shifted its focus from strengthening of existing colleges and is concerned about opening of new colleges. If existing colleges will be provided adequate staff, the department can introduce new streams which can enable these colleges to cater to large chunk of other students as well,” the official said.
Besides teaching staff, the higher education department also has 61 posts of Principals vacant in colleges against the existing strength of posts of Principals as 96.
“Only 36 percent degree colleges have permanent principals while as other colleges are managed by senior professors as care taker of the colleges,” the official said.
The department has also 96 posts of physical training instructors
Likewise, 21 posts of Physical Training Instructors (PTI’s) against the sanctioned strength of 96 have been filled by the government so far.
“Similarly only 21 posts of librarians against 95 sanctioned posts have been filled. The dearth of librarians has hampered the up gradation of libraries in colleges,” the official said.
Commissioner Secretary higher education department, SaritaChauhan said the department was aware about the dearth of teaching and non-teaching staff in colleges which will be taken care of.
“We are deliberating on the issue and have already referred some posts of PSC for recruitment. The problem will be resolved,” she said.
KV Correspondent
