1 week ago
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Several 1000 teachers moving successful self-financing colleges nether Kannur University whitethorn suffer their jobs pursuing Chancellor and Governor Rajendra Arlekar’s directive to strictly enforce University Grants Commission (UGC) qualification norms for teaching appointments.
Of the 1,479 teachers employed successful 99 self-financing colleges affiliated with Kannur University, lone 620 person the qualification prescribed by the UGC. The remaining 859 teachers bash not conscionable the eligibility criteria and could look removal if the norms are implemented without relaxation. The UGC stipulates that adjunct professors indispensable person either a PhD oregon person qualified the National Eligibility Test (NET).
Acting connected the Chancellor’s instruction, the Vice-Chancellor had issued an bid successful February stating that each teachers, including Principals, indispensable conscionable the prescribed qualifications. Colleges failing to comply would not beryllium granted a provisional affiliation for the 2026-27 world year. However, colleges whitethorn get provisional affiliation if they taxable affidavits assuring the assemblage that qualified teachers volition beryllium appointed earlier the completion of the existent admittance process. Only institutions providing specified undertakings volition beryllium permitted to admit students. If, aft admissions are complete, teachers are recovered to beryllium unqualified, the colleges hazard losing their affiliation.
The contented gained renewed attraction aft the Governor, during his sojourn to Kannur University connected Monday (June 1, 2026), reiterated his basal connected enforcing teacher qualification norms, dimming hopes of immoderate relaxation this world year.
‘Will make a crisis’
M.J. Mathew, Kannur University Senate subordinate and the Principal of Devamatha Arts and Science College, Paisakary, opined that the determination to strictly enforce UGC eligibility norms successful colleges nether the assemblage volition effect successful the removal of much than a 1000 teachers, severely impact admissions, and make a situation successful higher education.
Mr. Mathew said that galore teachers with post-graduate qualification but without NET person been serving for 22 to 25 years. He pointed retired that though self-financing colleges were affiliated to the assemblage done an ordinance, item statutes governing work conditions and recruitment norms person not been formally incorporated into assemblage regulations. He said the assemblage stipulated having 25% NET-qualified module successful colleges past year, and is present insisting connected 100%. This abrupt modulation causes terrible hardship, helium added.
Kannur University is presently the lone assemblage successful Kerala reportedly insisting connected afloat compliance with the qualification norms for continuation of affiliation. Similar measures person not been implemented by universities specified arsenic University of Calicut, Mahatma Gandhi University and University of Kerala.
‘Difficult to replace’
Mr. Mathew noted that qualified NET candidates are not disposable successful respective disciplines, making contiguous replacement difficult. Even aided and authorities colleges often name impermanent lecturers erstwhile qualified candidates are unavailable.
He projected that teachers appointed earlier the 2018 UGC regularisation beryllium granted exemption portion those appointed aft 2018 beryllium fixed a tenable play to get NET oregon PhD qualification. Future appointments tin beryllium restricted strictly to candidates gathering UGC norms, Mr. Mathew added.
According to M.P.A Raheem, State president of the Self-Financing Colleges Management Association, akin enforcement of the Governor’s directive crossed universities successful Kerala could impact astir 18,000 teachers moving successful self-financing colleges nether assorted universities.
He said astir 7,500 teachers each successful Calicut University and Mahatma Gandhi University could beryllium affected if the norms are strictly implemented.
Mr. Raheem said the relation had demanded concessions for teachers who person been serving successful self-financing colleges for galore years. It has sought extortion for teachers appointed earlier 2018 and requested further clip for those recruited from 2018 onwards to get the required qualification. However, Kannur University insisting the norms volition pb to the closure of colleges; this volition beryllium powerfully challenged, helium added.
Shino P. Jose, convenor of Senators’ Forum, said maintaining qualifications successful accordance with UGC regulations is indispensable successful higher acquisition to uphold the indispensable standards; however, it is important to forestall abrupt occupation losses, helium added. “Allowing teachers a minimum of 2 years to get the required qualifications would beryllium reasonable,” Mr. Jose said.
Norms indispensable beryllium enforced: V-C
Kannur University Vice-Chancellor K.K. Saju has defended the enforcement of UGC qualification norms, stating that institutions are liable for appointing qualified teachers and the assemblage cannot assistance affiliation without verifying module credentials.
He said students had complained astir unqualified teachers and argued that colleges lacking qualified unit and capable facilities cannot expect the assemblage to compromise world standards. According to him, astir 60% of seats stay vacant successful galore institutions, portion colleges with qualified module and amended facilities proceed to pull students and execute amended world results.
The V-C said arts and subject colleges are regulated by universities done the affiliation process, which requires support of implicit unit profiles. He alleged that admissions were antecedently allowed earlier affiliation procedures were completed, a signifier helium insisted indispensable end.
He noted that teachers without required qualifications had been fixed respective years to comply and said the assemblage is bound by Chancellor and authorities orders mandating UGC norms.
