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Concern over teaching vacancies in colleges

Staff Reporter

Onus of recruiting teachers lies with State Governments, says UGC Vice-Chairman

MADURAI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is concerned over faculty vacancies in universities and colleges and fresh recruitments not being made to fill up the posts, its Vice-Chairman, V. N. Rajasekaran Pillai, said here on Wednesday.

"Many teachers have retired and the average age of teachers in colleges and varsities is now over 50 years. We (UGC) are concerned and the issue has to be taken up seriously in the interest of higher education," he said.

Dr. Pillai was speaking at the 116th College Day celebrations of The Madura College.

Pointing out that recruitment of teachers had to be taken up by all State Governments, he stressed that unless there were motivated teachers, whatever structures and facilities created in universities and colleges would not yield results.

Universal education

The UGC Vice-Chairman also touched upon the issue of universal education and the need to increase enrolment for higher education.

In India, he said, only 10 per cent of eligible children completed tenth standard and only seven per cent of higher education enrolment happened in the country in the age group of 16-20 years.

Urging the people and organisations not to undervalue human resources and not to give over emphasis to material and technological resources, Dr. Pillai cautioned that nothing would happen in any country at the cost of human resources.

He also urged teaching fraternity in colleges to be constructive and creative and give room to independent initiatives.

Dr. Pillai lauded the role of philanthropists and industrial establishments in the growth of Madura College and commended the management for upholding good tradition.

More support sought

Earlier, the Madura College board president, S. Muthusami, pleaded for more support from the University Grants Commission in the context of increasing expenditure in managing college affairs.

The foundation stone for a health centre on the campus to be constructed at around Rs.5 lakh was laid by Dr. Pillai.

V.Sivakumar, Principal, who presented the annual report, highlighted the achievements of students/staff during the academic year.

M. S. Meenakshisundaram, college secretary, and other board members also participated.

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