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| What happened to Career advancement of Contractual Faculties? | | Deprivation and Demoralisation | | Dr. Muzamil | 3/22/2020 8:14:29 PM |
| As a faculty of social science working for last few years as a contractual lecturer in higher education department, have some observations with regard to Higher Education system. It is not my intention either to comment in favour or against their ethical or non-ethical discretion but I have observed every changing boss at lower or higher level has manipulated the rules and regulation as per his/her discretion. Rather the purpose is to bring attention towards its influence on the academic discourse and ethics. It is also about the systemic error permeated through inadequate and flawed rules and regulations of which the entire system is the victim mostly the student community. Talking about the broader academic discourse may continue in my other write-ups. My specific contemplation in this specific article is about the Career advancement and career progression of academic arrangement faculties. Academic career is not luck by chance but a life evolution. It starts with young age and at death knell connects academics with infinity. In order to become a faculty for higher education one has to devote entire life and develop all credentials and skills, and is required to complete specific qualifications.
Being a faculty of history and politics the decisions time and again by the bosses at the helm of affairs has ignited my contemplation about certain historical precedents and their relevance to present situation prevalent in higher education system. It reminds me of the imprisonment and execution of Socrates-how he was poisoned to death-by the ruling class. Probably the sumptuous intellectual collaborators were very much part of the murder for observing deliberate silence. The second precedent fallowed Aristotle's escape (to save his life) owing to Alexander's haunt for him. The third one is about French nobles the "sumptuous prodigal riots" which cornered the general masses into deprivation and disgust. French nobles enjoying the privileges of power and wealth never cared about deteriorating economy and failing French society. It never concerned them to lessen their sumptuous luxurious comforts, rather pampered French society into corruption to fill coffers of their luxurious life. The laws were to help the noble rich only and set to maintain their domination in the system. No one belonging to non-nobles class should enter the domain of the noble class. However, it was conditionally conferred to certain people-the rich and wealthy only-who can pay tax and was thus conditional that they are not equal to original nobles. They were only tamed for the comfort and service of upper and original nobles. The above narration must have conveyed its message that highly educated faculties of higher education are heckled and harassed by the rulers. The rules and regulations are framed as such to deprive them of their equal opportunity (Career Advancement and Career Progression) and equality of person.
In our own recent history precedents of same kind are found that perpetuated authoritarian rule of Maharajas benefitting a particular community/class over the expense of common masses. These precedents the rules and regulations allow explain the plight of common masses and plight of certain community. Every Kashmiri knows about the tragedy or plight of Shawl Baffs who were the victims of rashness, arrogance, and ruthlessness of Maharaja. Although the Raj has the Handicraft exported to Europe and earn hefty amount of wealth for government treasuries. The Maharajas and its establishment had very sumptuous and luxurious life and the shawl Baffs were deprived of decent wages and professional stabilisation. They were deprived of dignified life and social, civic and self-identity. The burden of deprivation was equally shared by their families. Their own skill became a curse and reason that some of them chopped off their hands. To register the dissent called upon the rage and ruckus of Dogras Maharajas ruthlessness leading to their further deprivation and disgust. The history is very well repeated now a days. It seems that spending 34 years to complete Doctorates and other eligibilities, competing at national and international level has ended up in victimization and a ruthless search for a decent life. The system is as such that has always played with a same symmetry of exploitation of one and favouritism to some with the players of the game replaced through systemic changes of domination.
Our forefathers faced wraths of Rajas, we are facing new aptly made fallible system. So unhealthy, even unable to recognise its corner stones- career advancement, social equality and human development. The most exact precedent of the Maharajas policies to deprive a specific community from educational and job opportunities. It is a well-known history that Dogra rulers had set the rules to ensure that certain communities especially Muslim should be deprived from having political and administrative representations. The leader, Loin of Kashmir, Shiekh Abdullah Sahab and few other youngsters post graduated from Aligarh were looking for jobs. The Dogra Raj was hell bent to keep them out from administration. Therefore to ensure Shiekh Sahabs is not going to get any job the rules and procedures were accordingly changed comically but pathetic. Observe the fallowing conditions carefully: First condition to get a job; (1) a person must not have crossed the age of 21 years; (2) he/she should not be having any illness at any time in life. The other two conditions were even more pathetic; the person must belong to a tax payer family only and, alas! None of his family member should have fallen ill at any period of time. Here is the trend now, don't change the rules but do nothing meaning don't advertise the openings. There are 2400 vacancies in higher education department still pending and not advertised. Remember there is an "equal opportunity" clause so hold vacancies till every one becomes equal. Atleast in age. Still, those who hold good qualifications, doctorates, let them become intellectual wanderers instead to become financial liability for the system. The system is already manned and managed by these eligible lot but being unconfirmed contractual lecturers are yet unqualified to be taken into the system through proposing innovative mechanism. We are still ruled by the British rules of White collar supremacy always citing lack of rules and finances. Even if it is considered 'financial crunch' a reason career advancement or professional stability does not include remuneration only. There is a systemic inequality that the rules don't permit for academicians to become truly professional and committed.
Career advancement and career progression is the birth right of academicians, teachers and researchers. In all other departments career progression is given to its employees through departmental exams carried by PSC. KAS to IAS, Patwari to Tehsildar, accounts Assistant to senior officers, constable to inspector is done through departmental screening and scrutiny. In fact in school education SSA and RT teachers are promoted as regular teachers considering their contribution and services. The regular teacher is actually an SSB post. A teacher promoted as lecturer on seniority basis (recently) is a gazetted post. They were not even scrutinised for promotions. Our own faculties in higher education department are promoted and given career advancement on seniority bases. However in case of academic arrangements the case is working otherwise. We are being victimized only because the PSC which is a defunct recruiting agency taking years together to get even small number of posts fulfilled has not interviewed us. Remember KAS posts advertised are still waiting. Even recent KAS examinations conducted has been nullified three times. The contractual faculty is competent provided the department of higher develop a mechanism to evaluate and scrutinise their performance as faculties like other departments of same government do for career progression of its employees. The fact of the matter is that career progression is a basic right and an individual working in a department in any capacity must be given that right. The truth is that they have never ever been allowed any career progression. They are not allowed for workshops, refresher programmes, pursuing degrees is faraway issue. In case of a newly appointed teacher AP's, after completing probationary their priority becomes to complete PhD for increments and career advancement is a Government provision based of human rights. Not opening such opportunities and avenues for Academic arrangement faculties is by the very basis of human rights illegal, injustice and crime. Are they are less human? In fact the contractual faculties have completed their doctorates at the entry level itself. Absorbing them is economical and beneficial for department for consistency sustainable and quality education. Whenever the contractual faculties are registering their grievances in a democratic way, it should not be looked through ill intentions or suspicion or hurting some one's personal ego or treason against bossism. This is the birth right of a citizen wanting for a career advancement and professional stability in this age of competition for stable and dignified life. These teachers possess faculties and are not less or unequal citizens of this nation.
But the consistent deprivation of dignified life in a professional respect, less wages, has broken down the morale and confidence is in the legal sense deprivation of basic right to a dignified life. The deprivation if continues could in future render for them fallable due to some natural tendencies-the age factor- marred with systemic injustice. The matter is not about regularisation as such, as it is referred by recent committee that they can't be regularised. Though there is doubt whether a two page write up of 5 or 6 points can be defined as a report. I mean no arguments were raised, no discussions elaborated and no facts or evidences were discussed. It looks like a dogra Farmaan. An assistant professor completes probationary in two years, becomes senior Assistant professor after four years, and after eight years designated as associate professor and then professor fallowed by principal's position. A contractual faculty is part of each and every activity in college; governance through committees, research, invigilating, exams classes, etc. these activities are counted as API for permanent faculty and the same don't count in career progression of Academic Arrangement faculty. A contractual is contractual first year, fourth year, eighth year and so on. Why can't be widened the scope of contribution from mere an experience certificate to designations as well. Why can't rules be amended and the department through PSC or departmentaly scrutinise their performance as faculties and other credentials periodically. In the leading hundred world universities there are junior lecturer, senior lecturer, Assistant Professors, Senior Assistant professors, Associate and full professors. Such a diverse cult of designations is to ensure the career progression of all according to their position and merit. And our Higher Education system has come up an innovative style of arrangement-"Need Based Arrangement"- speaks seriousness of those at the helm of affairs. This is the only out of the box thinking to restructure and overhaul the deprived State's education system. It looks like everyone is missing the target it is not. It is not a deliberate attempt even. The basic reason is to improve education system and development of society requires insight and preference. Both of them are missing. The people at the helm of affairs are inadequately equipped and give preference to saving finances, reduce expenditure and trying to kill two birds with one stone: save money and hide inadequacy. Discrimination is a fools sway of emotions. What the need is not we are being ill-treated but the matter of our right to progress. Career advancement and professional stability is the basic right of each and every educated, professional, career exploring citizen.
When all other departments evaluate people departmentally, let higher education department evaluate and scrutinise contractual lecturers. The faculties who can prove their worth must be ensured career progression and advancement. Let the new comers work on contractual basis and gain some experience before launching them into the higher education as full-fledged faculties. Dear readers' rules are not for fools. They are meant for social civic arrangement, however, the vested interest makes them to do otherwise. Why do I raise the above debate or demand? Does not it makes sense that a Ph.D to get an award has to pass through rigorous entrance test for post-graduation, then for M. Phil and Ph.D. During M. Phil the candidate is evaluated continuously by the research committee and in Ph.D four doctoral committees, two public open viva voice, scheduled departmental presentations are not enough evaluation of a person's academic credentials. Till a student acquires Ph.D has to compete for merit and able to complete his doctorates. But suddenly after that there is full stop on his career progression and career advancement, due to none of his fault but out dated rules, bureaucratic decisions, lack of finances, vested interests, technical defaults or faults in the governmental system. Two examples: A year before Madhya Pradesh gave 30 % reservation for contractual faculties in its PSC recruitment. IIT are appointing the Contractual faculty for five years and then again through a committee framed by the respective institution his performance of five years is evaluated and scrutinised to confirm him for permanent designation accordingly. |
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