As a faculty of social science working forlast few years as a contractual lecturer in higher education department, I havesome observations with regard to Higher Education system. It is not myintention either to comment in favour or against anyone, but I have observedeveryone, at lower or higher level, have manipulated the rules and regulationas per his/her discretion. My purpose is to bring attention towards its effecton the academic discourse and ethics. It is also about the systemic errorpermeated through inadequate and flawed rules and regulations of which the entiresystem is the victim, mostly the student community.
My focus in this article is about thecareer advancement and career progression of academic arrangement faculties.Academic career is a life evolution. In order to become a faculty for highereducation one has to devote entire life and develop all skills, and is requiredto complete specific qualifications.
Being a faculty of history and politics thedecisions time and again by the bosses at the helm of affairs has ignited mycontemplation about certain historical precedents and their relevance topresent situation, prevalent in higher education system. It reminds me of theimprisonment and execution of Socrates-how he was poisoned to death-by theruling class. The second precedent fallowed Aristotle’s escape (to save hislife) owing to Alexander’s hunt for him. The third one is about French nobles,the “sumptuous prodigal riots” which cornered the general masses intodeprivation and disgust. French nobles enjoying the privileges of power andwealth never cared about deteriorating economy and failing French society. Itnever concerned them, rather pampered French society into corruption to fillcoffers. The laws were to help the noble rich only and set to maintain theirdomination in the system. No one belonging to non-noble class should enter thedomain of the noble class. However, it was conditionally conferred to certainpeople-the rich and wealthy only-who can pay tax and was thus conditional thatthey are not equal to original nobles. They were only tamed for the comfort andservice of upper and original nobles. The above narration must have conveyedits message that highly educated faculties of higher education are heckled andharassed by the rulers. The rules andregulations are framed to deprive them of their equal opportunity (CareerAdvancement and Career Progression) and equality of person.
In our own recent history precedents arefound that perpetuated authoritarian rule of Maharajas benefitting a particularcommunity/class over the expense of common masses. Every Kashmiri knows aboutthe plight of Shawl Baffs who were the victims of ruthlessness. The burden ofdeprivation was equally shared by their families. Their own skill became acurse and reason that some of them chopped off their hands. It seems thatspending 34 years to complete Doctorates and other eligibilities, competing atnational and international level has ended up in victimization.
Our forefathers faced wrath of Rajas, weare facing it from this system. Thereare 2400 vacancies in higher education department still pending and notadvertised. Remember there is an “equal opportunity” clause so hold vacanciestill every one becomes equal. At least in age. Still, those who hold goodqualifications, doctorates, let them become intellectual wanderers instead ofbecoming financial liability for the system. The system is already manned andmanaged by these eligible lot but being unconfirmed, contractual lecturers areyet unqualified to be taken into the system through any innovative mechanism.We are still ruled by a kind of White collar supremacy always citing lack ofrules and finances. Even if it is considered ‘financial crunch’ a reason careeradvancement or professional stability does not include remuneration only. Thereis a systemic inequality that the rules don’t permit for academicians to becometruly professional and committed.
Career advancement and career progressionis the birth right of teachers andresearchers. In all other departments career progression is ensured throughdepartmental exams carried by PSC. KAS to IAS, Patwari to Tehsildar, accountsAssistant to senior officers, constable to inspector is done throughdepartmental screening and scrutiny. In fact in school education SSA and RTteachers are promoted as regular teachers considering their contribution andservices. The regular teacher is actually an SSB post. A teacher promoted aslecturer on seniority basis (recently) is a gazetted post. They were not evenscrutinised for promotions. Our own faculties in higher education departmentare promoted and given career advancement on seniority bases. However in caseof academic arrangements the case is working otherwise. We are being victimizedonly because the PSC which is a, taking years together to get even small numberof posts filled, has not interviewed us.
The contractual faculty is competentprovided the department develops a mechanism to evaluate and scrutinise theirperformance as faculties like other departments do for career progression ofits employees. The fact of the matter is that career progression is a basicright and an individual working in a department in any capacity must be giventhat right. The truth is that they have never ever been allowed any careerprogression. They are not allowed for workshops, refresher programmes, not tospeak of pursuing degrees. In case of a newly appointed teachers, APs, aftercompleting probationary period their priority becomes to complete PhD forincrements and career advancement is a Government provision based of humanrights. Not opening such opportunities and avenues for Academic arrangementfaculties is injustice. Are they less humans? In fact the contractual facultieshave completed their doctorates at the entry level itself. Absorbing them iseconomical and beneficial for department for sustainable and quality education.Whenever the contractual faculties are registering their grievances in ademocratic way, it should not be looked through ill intentions or suspicion orhurting some one’s personal ego. These teachers possess faculties and are notless or unequal citizens of this nation.
But the consistent deprivation of dignifiedlife has broken down the morale and confidence. The matter is not aboutregularisation as such, as it is referred to by recent committee by averringthat they can’t be regularised. Though there is doubt whether a two page writeup of 5 or 6 points can be defined as a report. I mean no arguments wereraised, no discussions held, and no facts or evidences were discussed. It lookslike a dogra Farmaan. An assistant professor completes probationary in twoyears, becomes senior Assistant professor after four years, and after eightyears designated as associate professor and then professor fallowed byprincipal’s position. A contractual faculty is part of each and every activityin college; governance through committees, research, invigilating, examsclasses etcetera; these activities are counted as API for permanent faculty andthe same don’t count in career progression of Academic Arrangement faculty. Acontractual is contractual first year, fourth year, eighth year and so on. Whycan’t rules be amended and the department through PSC or by itself scrutinisetheir performance as faculties and other credentials periodically. In theleading world universities there are Junior Lecturers, Senior Lecturers,Assistant Professors, Senior Assistant Professors, Associate and fullProfessors. This is to ensure career progression of all according to theirposition and merit. And our Higher Education system has come up with aninnovative style of arrangement -“Need Based Arrangement”- speaks seriousnessof those at the helm of affairs. This is the only out of box thinking torestructure and overhaul the deprived education system.
The people at the helm of affairs areinadequately equipped and give preference to saving finances, reducingexpenditure and trying to kill two birds with one stone: save money and hideinadequacy.
When all other departments evaluate peopledepartmentally, let higher education department evaluate and scrutinisecontractual lecturers. The faculties who can prove their worth must be ensuredcareer progression and advancement. Let the new comers work on contractualbasis and gain some experience before launching them into the higher educationas full-fledged faculties.
Rules are not for fools. They are meant forsocial civic arrangement. Two examples: A year before Madhya Pradesh gave 30 %reservation for contractual faculties in its PSC recruitment. IIT appoints thecontractual faculty for five years and then again through a committee framed bythe respective institution his performance of five years is evaluated andscrutinised to confirm him for permanent designation accordingly.
Dr. Muzammil is Faculty higher education kashmir