Change in lecturers' recruitment policy on cards to boost quality

To arrest the drop in the quality of teaching, the State government may soon introduce a change in the recruitment policy of lecturers at degree colleges in the State.

During the preliminary discussions between the Higher Education department officials and the late Higher Education Minister V S Acharya, it was decided that the department will form a panel of experts in the fields of science, commerce or arts, who will pick and choose quality lecturers to work at government colleges in the State. 

However, there is scepticism about the implementation of the policy decision with the demise of the minister. A telling impact is also expected on the budgetary allocation for the Higher Education department which is reeling under acute shortage of quality teaching facilities.

Principal Secretary for Higher Education, Siddaiah, said the minister’s death has been a great loss to his department, with a ‘vacuum’ being created at the helm of affairs as there is crucial budget session impending next month.

“Over the past few weeks, detailed discussions had taken place with the minister over ensuring that first grade colleges and engineering institutions have the basic minimum facilities to provide quality education to students,” Siddaiah told Deccan Herald. 

According to him, as many as 80 first grade colleges across the State are facing a tough situation due to the lack of basic infrastructure like labs and toilets. “We were looking at ensuring that this year there is maximum possible allocation towards the Higher Education department for imparting quality teaching to students,” he said.

Some other new initiatives, which are likely to be introduced in the budget for the Higher Education department include canteen facilities in degree colleges at subsidised rates and mutation policies from polytechnics to engineering colleges.

On whether there might be any impact on the department’s financial situation with a new minister likely to take charge, he said: “We will push for what the former minister had envisaged. There will be a change in the functioning of the department, but certain policy decisions have to be taken.”