Srinagar, Jan 31: The proposed move of the state Government to conduct entrance examination for the appointment of lecturers on academic arrangements from the forthcoming session in colleges has drawn flak, with lecturers terming it as a discriminatory move.
 The candidates working in different colleges of the valley told Greater Kashmir that the move was sheer discrimination with hundreds of candidates working in colleges on meager salary for the last more than 14 years.
 “The move is against the experienced candidates who have served colleges in tough times. The other departments prioritize experience and give preference to the experienced candidates, but it is shocking that they are reducing weightage to the experienced candidates,” they said.
 “The Government should engage lecturers as per the already existing procedure through merit basis and experience,” they said.
 According to them, the move of curtailing the number of lecturers would also hit the academics in colleges badly.
 “We are already overburdened due to workload, and now reduction would adversely affect the studies of students in colleges,” said Nazir Ahmed, who works as lecturer in a City college.
 At present, the state Government engages 1679 lecturers, with 1152 against pool fund, on academic arrangements, against the vacancies.
 The government’s proposed move to conduct examination was taken at the meeting in December last year under the chairmanship of Minister for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik.
 “Department should also devise a mechanism of engagement of lecturers on academic arrangements on the basis of examination to be conducted for both the divisions by the nodal principals under the supervision of the director colleges. The mode of which may be framed and put forth by the director colleges for approval of the government,” reads the copy of the minutes of said meeting, which is lying with Greater Kashmir.
 When contacted, Abdul Gani Malik said that they were contemplating over the matter of conducting entrance examination.
 “We are still discussing it and are yet to take decision on it,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST