The ad-hoc epidemic – DU lecturer’s suicide should occasion introspection on recruitments in universities and colleges. Government must regularise posts, fill vacancies

Source: The post is based on the article “Express View: The ad-hoc epidemic – DU lecturer’s suicide should occasion introspection on recruitments in universities and colleges. Government must regularise posts, fill vacancies” published in the Indian Express on 1st May 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

Relevance: About the issues with ad hoc faculty recruitment.

News: A former ad hoc lecturer at Delhi University College took his life after he did not get tenure after a provisional teaching stint of nearly five years. This again highlights the issues with the recruitment system in the country’s higher education institutions.

Why are the issues with the ad hoc faculty recruitment system in higher education institutions is essential?

Not eligible for various benefits: According to the education ministry figures for last year, the central universities employed more than 4,000 teachers on a temporary basis. They perform the same duties as the permanent faculty. But, the ad-hoc lecturers are not eligible for benefits such as gratuity, pensions, and the full range of medical allowances. Last year, the government also said that it had no plans to regularise the services of these ad-hoc teachers.

Not follow the rulebook: The statute books of most universities underline that if a vacancy is for a period longer than what is stipulated in the rules, interviews for permanent posts must be held. For instance, the DU’s rules state that “ad hoc appointment shall only be made for a period of more than one month and up to four months”. But most universities have found ways to dodge these provisions and normalise ad-hocism.

Increase in ad hoc teachers: The number of ad-hoc teachers at DU has grown eight times in the last 10 years — last year, they comprised 40% of the university’s teaching force.

The issue with permanent recruitment: Even if the permanent posts are advertised, interviews get delayed because of the centralised procedures. According to data presented by the education ministry in Parliament, more than 6,000 teaching positions are currently vacant across the country’s central universities.

What should be done?

The National Education Policy 2020 envisions teachers’ role in bringing about these far-reaching reforms. But, institutions cannot be built on the back of unfair employment conditions. Hence, the government should introspect the recruitment in universities and colleges and regularise posts, fill vacancies