It is quite intriguing that the government in Jammu and Kashmir has been taking University Grants Commission’s guidelines as lightly which in the long run can dent the future of the students besides affecting the career prospects of the faculty engaged in various colleges.
This significant issue has been brought to fore by the J&K College Teachers Association’s Jammu wing, which has alleged violations of UGC Regulations of 2010 and 2018, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and the UGC Curriculum and Credit Framework for undergraduate programmes. This, although seems to be something affecting only the college teacher fraternity but if things would be analyzed in depth, the ‘take it easy policy’ by the government will ultimately dent the future of upcoming nation builders because any shortcoming at the higher education level will ultimately devastate the future prospects of the students, which is not at all good for the region as well as the country.
Reportedly, in a letter to the Financial Commissioner of the Higher Education Department, JKCTA President has said the fresh directives issued by the Director Colleges had “overburdened faculty members and compromised the quality of education”. It has been alleged that the workload of Assistant Professors and Associate Professors has been increased in violation of UGC norms. While the UGC Regulations of 2010 and 2018 prescribe 16 hours of direct teaching per week for Assistant Professors and 14 hours for Associate Professors, the Higher Education Department has directed an increase to 18 hours.
The association described this as a “clear violation of norms”. The teachers also objected to the arbitrary increase in the size of student groups for practical classes. As per the UGC norms, a practical group of science subjects needs to comprise 25 students for effective and quality practical work, and it has been followed for many years. But, for the reasons best known to the Director Colleges, the strength of a practical group for science students has been arbitrarily increased from 25 to 40, thereby overloading the college teachers.
It has been also alleged that maximum strength of students in theory classes has been increased from 80 to 120, which can have deleterious effects on imparting knowledge.
Undermining the scientific approach of those who have compiled these norms by roping in top experts is not at all a good idea and therefore the government in J&K should revisit its decisions and pay heed to the suggestions given by the college teachers as this is not the question of ego but it is necessary to impart quality education to create meaningful citizens in the country.
All said and done, looking at the long-term consequences of such policies, the government should prioritize educational standards over administrative convenience for the sake of students’ future and national development.
