Universities shorthanded

That gives a dismal picture of growing incapacity in respect of imparting education at the highest seat of learning. No wonder, the standards of education in the universities have been declining day by day. Campus unrest and student politics are often held responsible for the deterioration in the academic situation. Seldom are the teachers' overstays abroad or other preoccupations blamed for the poor academic performance of the universities. This negative factor can no longer be lost sight of as we devise ways and means to meet the demands for streamlining higher education on an urgent footing.

Obviously, the university authorities cannot prevent the teachers from going on study leave. But they can ill afford to lose control over the situation as they evidently have. Under no circumstances can they allow anybody to enjoy leave or any other benefit at the cost of academic needs of the students. If there is only one teacher for 72 students, attaining academic excellence will always remain a far cry. Many of the teachers are apparently enjoying leave in violation of the rules. Some of them have not even been heard from having drifted out of any contact with the universities.

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The university authorities have so far been unable to take any effective steps against those teachers playing truant in violation of the service rules. The chairman of the UGC has said that the situation can change only if the teachers concerned show a sense of responsibility and commitment. But we believe strict observance of the rules must be ensured; and if the existing ones can not take care of the extreme cases, those then would need to be given adequate teeth. Simultaneously, we should perhaps have stand-by panels of qualified teachers whose services could be utilised in contingency situations on a short notice.