PGs see red in KPSC recruitment notification

The criteria is not in accordance with UGC or AICTE, allege aspirants

At a time when the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) is in the news for all wrong reasons, a fresh controversy is likely to trigger over the eligibility criteria set by the KPSC for the recruitment of yogic science professors, assistant professors and lecturers.

A few of the yogic science post graduates have now questioned the eligibility criteria set by the KPSC in its recruitment notification dated June 1, 2013, for the above mentioned posts. As per the recruitment notification, the eligibility criteria for the post of yoga professor is BNYS (Bachelor in Naturopathy and Yogic Science) degree with three to five years of work experience.

 This criteria is not in accordance with the normal criteria followed by any government, University Grants Commission (UGC) or All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) which demands for a post graduate degree in yogic science along with a work experience of minimum 10 years.

In a press release issued by a few yogic science post graduates who are unhappy with the KPSC guidelines, they have alleged the KPSC of diluting the quality of education system by appointing mere graduates for prestigious posts like that of professors.

The KPSC has invited applications from the eligible candidates for the posts of professors, assistant professors and lecturers in ayurveda, naturopathy and yoga, unani and homeopathy subjects. The salary structure for all this posts are in accordance with the AICTE guidelines.

But the eligibility criteria fixed for the posts of yogic science professors and assistant professors is as follows:

“The candidate for the post of yogic science professor must possess a bachelor degree (BNYS) and post graduate degree in Naturopathy and Yoga awarded by an University established by law in India.”

However, the KPSC has relaxed the criteria by further stating that “provided that if a person with PG degree in Naturopathy and Yoga is not available, person with bachelor degree in BNYS may be considered for direct recruitment.”

Clause two of the criteria says that “the candidate must have put in not less than five years of teaching experience in Naturopathy and Yoga in an institution recognised by the government.”

Here again, it has given scope for relaxation of criteria to make direct recruitment of a candidate with three years of teaching experience if a person with minimum teaching experience of five years is not available.

As far as the eligibility criteria for the post of lecturers is concerned, the KPSC has set the criteria of BNYS or PG degree.

Furthermore, the KPSC has also not added Ph.D or NET in the eligibility criteria which is the norm followed by AICTE. “Recruiting ineligible candidates for the posts will only reduce the quality of education. This wrong move by the KPSC will set a bad trend for the future recruitment process in higher education”.

“Therefore, the KPSC should withhold the recruitment process based on the last notification. The Commission should re-structure the criteria for the yogic science teaching posts and invite fresh applications,” demanded a few yogic science post graduates in a press release.