GS Asgotra
Early Times Report
jammu, Aug 31: After assuming office in March this year, the Minister for Higher Education, Naeem Akhtar, had announced that Government was committed to implement 'rationalization policy' regarding posting and transfer of lecturers. Six months later, it appears the announcement was a hoax, as the government has failed to provide even lecturers to peripheral colleges in Jammu, where students have been protesting for many days.
Students of different colleges including GDC Billawar, Reasi, Kathua, Basohli and others have been staging protest demonstrations, demanding filling up of the vacant posts. Ironically, two months are left for the current academic session to end.
Sources said the Education Department conducted three-day counselling in July in which 4500 candidates had applied for 836 posts for academic arrangement in 37 subjects in various colleges. However, the candidates selected on temporary basis have not been willing to join the respective colleges due to which the students of different streams have been facing hardships.
Criticizing the 'rationalized policy', a lecturer pleading anonymity said there were scores of college lecturers who have been overstaying in city colleges for many years.
"Instead of transferring these overstaying lecturers to peripheral colleges, the incumbent Government has adopted its predecessor regime's policy: to shield these powerful lecturers in city colleges and don't give a damn about colleges located in far-flung areas," he said.
Though Government had assured to provide lecturers till August 31, there is no word yet, due to which students of Billawar college came on roads to vent their anger.
The protesting students demanded that until Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who won from Billawar, would assure to provide lecturers, they would not resume the class work.
Commissioner Secretary of Higher Education Department Sarita Chouhan said that due to a pending litigation in the court, the lecturers recruited on academic arrangements have not been deputed there. "We have already instructed the principals of Government Degree Colleges to engage guest lecturers so that studies will not suffer," she said.
When asked if permanent lecturers would be deputed to colleges in far flung areas, she said the transfer of lecturers "involved a perilous exercise."
"Whenever the transfers will be made, lists will be published," she said. |
