More than 50% of the around 650 colleges in the city do not have full-time principals; in most colleges, senior professors fill in as acting principals.
Teachers get scores ranging from 5 to 75 depending on their research publications, academic contributions and participation in international conferences. Their accumulated scores should sum up to 400 in category III of the academic performance indicator for them to be eligible for the principal’s post, according to the UGC norm.
According to the UGC norm, a candidate for the post of principal is required to have a score of 400 points in category III of the API. In this category, the candidate is assessed on the basis of research and academic contributions, such as publication of papers or books by international publications and participation in international conferences.
“It is difficult to get candidates even with 100 points. Also, it is not essential for a principal, which is more of an administrative post, to have so many points in research and academic contributions,” said Madhu Nair, dean of commerce, University of Mumbai.
“The principal’s post is no longer attractive. Not many professors who are qualified would like to take it up as there is hardly any difference in the salaries offered. Plus, it is a high-pressure job and he/she is answerable to several people,” said Nair.
Varsity officials, as representatives of the Indian Commerce Association (ICA), plan to ask the ministry of human resource development to review the UGC norm and scrap it.
Source: TOI
6 Comments