Taking the problems of universities caused by large-scale vacancies into account, the State Government has decided to go in for staff strengthening by filling up the posts. The Government has already sanctioned at least 176 posts of teachers in all the seven Government-run universities.
A high-powered committee headed by Principal Secretary of Higher Education Department GK Dhal recently reviewed the position of vacancies in teachers’ posts in all the universities, which are running with skeletal staff.
The committee took into consideration the number of sanctioned posts, the posts of teacher lying vacant, the students’ strength and the ratio of a minimum 15 classes per week per teacher.
The Department had proposed to fill up at least 176 posts of teachers, which has been allowed by the Department of Finance at one go, said official sources.
The decision would benefit the Utkal, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Ravenshaw, Fakir Mohan, North Odisha and Shree Jagannath Sankrit Universities, the sources added.
As many as 51 vacancies in the Utkal University would be filled up while teachers would also be posted in 60 vacancies in Ravenshaw; 13 posts in Sambalpur; 15 in Berhampur; nine in Sri Jagannath Sanskrit University; 11 in Fakir Mohan and 15 in North Odisha University, said the sources.
The Utkal University has been facing a tough time as 88 posts out of the sanctioned strength of 192, have been lying vacant, taking a heavy toll on studies. Taking into consideration the classroom teaching norm, 51 vacancies were allowed to be filled up, said the sources.
The Government’s move has followed repeated demands by the Utkal University Teachers’ Union (UUTU) for filling up of the vacant posts.
The union had urged the Government not to stick to the classroom criteria as the teaching at the postgraduate level in research, practical classes, study tours and also seminar presentations. All these criteria should be taken into account by the Government while allowing filing up of posts, said a senior member of the UUTU.