Deteriorating education system in State controlled universities due to shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff has always been talk of the campuses across country, with Jharkhand no exception. But where Jharkhand might be an exception is that it is probably the only State where Government comes ready to fill the vacant seats, asks for list repeatedly, and universities keep on delaying in providing the list.
This is what many senior officials in Department of Higher and Technical education have appeared saying even after department directed the universities to submit their roster of teachers within a week on June 1.
The department has directed all the universities of the State to come up with their roster of teachers, so that the number of vacant seats which crossed over 1,800 could be filled. “There have been concerted efforts to get this list from universities since last six months or so, and we have sent requests and reminders a number of times. But every time it has been delayed citing one reason or the other from universities,” said KP Singh, Joint Secretary in the department adding that he was in a capacity of discussing only technical aspect of it.
Some universities have claimed to have sent the list already, including Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh. “We have already sent our list to Higher Education Department and we are waiting for further processes,” said Professor (Dr) Gurdeep Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the university. But most of them have failed to do so yet, though some are confident about compiling and sending the list within the week to abide by the direction.
Ranchi University is also among those which have not been able to prepare their list. “We will definitely prepare list this time within given time, and will send to the department,” said Dr RK Pandey, Vice-Chancellor, Ranchi University. He added that there have been genuine reasons for not being able to prepare the list so far. He said, “We have around 40 vacancies. But this number is not static, as a number of posts have turned vacant since last six months due to retirement of teachers. Two of the teachers have retired even this week on May 31.”
But, “there is another side of the story also,” said a senior official of the department seeking anonymity. He said, “I can tell you where the problem comes from. The real problem is that all universities are under direct supervision of Governor itself, and that is why they think they have nothing to do with government orders or suggestions.” He also added that even if the fresh request or direction whatever you call goes unfulfilled, the department is not in position to do much.