Thousands Await Recruitment

Mohammed Younus / Hyderabad : Thousands of highly qualified candidates are eagerly awaiting possible government orders for notification of recruitment in various sectors as part of the poll promise made by the TRS government. Several Post Graduates, PhD scholars and qualified students are now looking for their respective notifications. Several enthusiasts said that notifications of recruitment were yet to be released to fill vacant posts in the department of school education and higher education, polytechnic colleges, including gazetted and non-gazetted positions.

Students who have completed their BEd and also cleared TET are in large numbers and vacancies in teaching posts are also in thousands

According to State government’s statistics, there were around 65,000 vacancies in various sectors including Group’s positions. There are 8,000 vacant positions for constables and 4,000 vacancies for SIs. The police department has recently announced a notification for recruitment of 5,000 Home Guards. They are expecting a notification from the newly formed Telangana State Public Service Commission. A senior research fellow at OU Psychology department G E Sukumar said that several of their scholars were waiting for the PSC Group 2 notification ever since the State was divided.

He said that every juvenile centre, rehabilitation centre and college needs a psychologist to look after the changing attitudes of students and counsel them. Apart from this, there are several positions vacant for psychologists at the university level. Students who have completed their BEd and also cleared TET are in large numbers and vacancies in teaching posts are also in thousands. Statistics revealed that around 20,000 teachers posts (TGT & PGT) are vacant in the State. The government released the notification for TET that is scheduled to be conducted next year.

Parimal Srinivas, a PG of B Ed said, “We hope that the recruitment woes are resolved soon as the State government promised to eradicate unemployment as part of Bangaru Telangana. Most of the highly qualified students were doing pretty jobs because of the apathy of the previous governments.” A top official in the School Education department said that notification for the recruitment of teachers could have been released, but for a proposal to rationalize the services of teachers.

27

Result of Disparity

Mohammed Younus / Hyderabad : Reforms in examination pattern introduced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) are being blamed for the bleak performance of candidates from both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States. Especially, the comprehensive aptitude test that was introduced in the preliminary examination was alleged to be flawed as the number of qualifying candidates were restricted to only 535. Educationists lamented that the number of qualified students in preliminary examinations had come down drastically due to the new pattern of examination. 

The number of students qualifying in the preliminary examination has been declining ever since the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) was introduced in 2011. The descriptive model has been replaced with the aptitude test, designed with complete mathematical orientation, thus favouring only students of Mathematics

On the other hand, students reiterated that they had expressed their dissent much before the conduct of examination itself. Out of 29,500 candidates, who appeared from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, only 535 could clear the preliminary examination. In the previous year, the number of students who qualified for the preliminary examination was around 1,230. However, the number of students qualifying in the preliminary examination has been declining ever since the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) was introduced in 2011. The descriptive model has been replaced with the aptitude test, designed with complete mathematical orientation, thus only favouring students of Mathematics.

At the same time the question paper is given in English and Hindi, neglecting all the regional languages. Students allege that Hindi medium students would always have an edge and can refer to Hindi questions if they don’t understand English, whereas Telugu medium students would be left with no such option. Ajay Kumar who attempted the preliminary examination but failed to make it said that the language used in the question paper was tough. He alleged that the reforms were introduced to deliberately exclude South Indian students. Noted social activist and educationist L Panduranga Reddy alleged that the examination pattern was totally against the spirit of the Constitution. 

According to Article 16 (Right to Equal Opportunities) and Article 345 (Equal Treatment to all Languages) instructs to treat its citizens equally, he said. He alleged that the UPSC board was raking up regional disparities by introducing the aptitude test in the preliminary examinations and demanded its immediate repeal. Reddy demanded that at least UPSC should give the question paper of Mains examination in all the regional languages along with English and Hindi or only in English for all.

He suggested that if UPSC wanted to put the aptitude test, it should be introduced after the written examination like it was done in the case of defence organisation examinations. Reddy said he would approach High Court against UPSC for this exclusive paper pattern. Several other educationists questioned UPSC’s logic behind not giving the paper in in other regional languages apart from English and Hindi. The main examination is scheduled to be held in December 2014 and IAS trainers have demanded UPSC to give the question paper in all the regional languages.

OU in troubles

Mohammed Younus/ Hyderabad: Osmania University (OU) has been facing administrative problem ever since the formation of separate State. Absence of the permanent Vice-Chancellor added to the existing woes. Even several routine activities like granting sanctions, clearing files, signing certificates and bills and looking after the hostel management were also being put on hold.

Students and professors complain that because of the poor administration the academic activities were hit badly. Several professors from the university alleged that the present adhoc administrative staff was unable to handle even the routine activities of the varsity. University professors alleged that several long pending issues which were raised during united Andhra Pradesh were still unresolved.

Telangana State Federation of University Teachers Association (TSFUTA) chairman B Satyanarayana said that even after the formation of separate State, the university issues were being neglected and left unresolved. He said that the major issues include payment of pension and pensionary benefits to the teachers, payment of UGC RSP arrears, pension arrears, employees’ health scheme, enhancement of block grants and the appointment of VC.

Other professors from the association alleged that the in charge VC was not giving adequate time to see the routine work. It was pointed out that the absence of VC proving to be the actual reason for several problems in the varsity. The professors asked that what was preventing government to appoint a permanent VC.

Future hangs Fire

Mohammed Younus/ Hyderabad : The future of lakhs of Intermediate students is uncertain as Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments have not come to an understanding on ways to conduct the examinations and run the Board of Intermediate (BIE). The most worried are students of the second year as they have to appear in various competitive examinations, usually after March. 

The BIE officials have already informed both the governments that the delay could hamper the conduct of examinations. Interestingly, the date of application for examinations has been extended continuously for the last one month. Usually, 4.5 lakh senior intermediate and 4 lakh first year students appear for the examinations. On the other hand, preparations for the examinations including preparation of question papers and OMR sheets are already behind the schedule. Though the ministers of both States discussed various issues pertaining to BIE, they could not come to any consensus.

The Telangana government’s stand was that board must be divided as soon as possible and examinations be conducted separately. At the same time, the government advocated for a separate Eamcet examination. However, the AP government has been expressing concern over the separate examination, saying it was against the spirit of AP Reorganisation Act 2013.

Another meeting of the education ministers is scheduled to take place in the next 48 hours. Highly placed sources said that if both the governments fail to arrive at a meaningful understanding, the issue is likely to see an active role of Governor ESL Narasimhan, who has already been receiving requests from several parents seeking his intervention in view of the future of the students.

Reasons for Delay
-No decision has been taken on the conduct of examination after the Telangana government objected
-Objections remain on preparation of question papers
-Around 768 sets for regular and 1,248 sets for optional papers to be prepared
-Preparations already behind two months
-Severe concerns over the maintenance of BIE
-Talks at Minister level inconclusive
-Board has very less time to take decision
-Intermediate marks have 15% weightage in Eamcet and 40% weightage in NIT

Norms to be followed

Mohammed Younus/ Hyderabad : With Supreme Court permitting the second phase of Eamcet counselling, most of the engineering colleges in the State are now obliged to meet the criteria prescribed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to complete the admission process before November 14. The criterion involves qualified faculty, good infrastructure and laboratories among a host of other important subjects. 

Nearly 174 engineering colleges were earlier denied permission to participate in the first phase of counselling citing shortcomings in the criteria following inspection by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University of Hyderabad (JNTUH). On Tuesday, the two-member SC bench observed that if college managements fulfilled AICTE norms, only then would they be allowed to participate in the second phase of counselling. The colleges were earlier restrained from participating in the counselling citing poor educational standards like lack of qualified faculty and failure to follow AICTE’s prescribed norms. 

JNTUH Academic Audit Cell member A Damodaram said that their University did not have any separate norms but it follows AICTE norms and carries out inspections at engineering colleges on a similar basis. He said that they would start inspecting 174 colleges in question after Supreme Court gave clear instructions in this regard. In its remarks, the SC bench asked the colleges to assure fulfilment of AICTE norms and submit an affidavit to the court that they would adhere to all mandatory instructions necessary to run a private technical institute.

The student/faculty ratio differs from subject to subject and department. At the same time the land required for an ideal campus in rural areas is different from that of urban area. Before the announcement of first phase of engineering counselling, JNTUH restrained around 174 colleges from participating in the counselling. They were allowed at a later date, but the counselling was over by then.

Weightage to Go !

Mohammed Younus/ Hyderabad: The Telangana government is contemplating doing away with weightage marks criteria for deciding the EAMCET ranking and is waiting for the response of the Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate. The issue would be discussed in the forthcoming meeting between Education ministers of both States on October 27 and a decision might come out of it. 

The Telangana government is intending to bring some changes in the Intermediate education for the convenience of students of the State. It wants to discuss these issues with AP government since the present BIE is common. The government is trying hard to get the board bifurcated so that it could implement its own agenda. The bifurcation proposal would be discussed in the meeting between education ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The government is contemplating several changes in the examination pattern and other things for quite some time and also released a GO declaring separation of Board recently.

Several meetings at Secretary-level have already discussed various issues pertaining to intermediate education and actual bifurcation of the board. On the other hand there were also discussions on separate examination for the students of both the State.AP government has been arguing for common annual examination for the students of Intermediate of both states as EAMCET would follow it immediately. Moreover it gives 25 percent weightage to the marks secured in intermediate in deciding rank of EAMCET.

A top level official in Telangana government said that if needed Telangana government may do away with the weightage in EAMCET. If this to be believed, the decision should have to be taken jointly by both the governments. Both the governments, after several meetings at secretary level, have decided to convene a joint meeting of education ministers on October 27 to sort out several issues pertaining to board of intermediate and its bifurcation procedure.

This meeting will also discuss the fate of other institutions included in the 10th schedule of A P Reorganization Act 2013. The ministers would try to sort out the issues of Dravidian University, Mahila University, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University and other standalone institutions in the state. The main agenda of the meeting would be to decide on the actual bifurcation of the intermediate board and modalities for conducting the examinations as very little time left for the examinations. The board officials are the job of preparing for examinations in time and on the other hand state government is mulling for some changes post examination.

No Vice Chancellors !

Mohammed Younus/ Hyderabad : Uncertainty over the appointment of full-time vice-chancellors for six of the eight universities in Telangana is not only impeding administration, but also putting students, colleges and staff in an unenviable position with regard to crucial matters. The posts have been lying vacant ever since the vice chancellors demitted office over a period of one year. 

Nearly six State-run universities have been headless for several months now

All significant activities, including recruitment, financial matters, funds release and maintenance have been badly hit in almost all the universities in Telangana. Nearly six State-run universities have been headless for several months now, and, in the absence of the top-most administrator, both routine and important administrative matters have been hamstrung for want of authorised signatures on the relevant files and certificates. A premier institution like Osmania University has been headless for the last four months and Telangana University in Nizamabad has been awaiting a permanent VC for six months now.

Only two universities, Satahvahana University, Karimnagar, and Mahatma Gandhi University, Nalgonda, have full- time vice-chancellors. This being so, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad vice-chancellor’s term will end in November 2014. Adverting to the common problems being faced by the university administration, Osmania University registrar K Pratap Reddy said that the absence of a VC in any of university would be like “a family without a head”. For, a VC alone has executive powers pertaining to staff, academics, release of funds and important student-related matters.

Reddy said that for every single decision the registrar was required to rush to the in-charge vice-chancellor. In OU, the post of VC has been vacant ever since Prof S Satyanarayana’s term ended. There are several IAS officers who have been made in-charge vice-chancellors of most of these universities. Senior government officials cite varying reasons, including new UGC (University Grants Commission) guidelines, for the delay in the appointment of VCs to these varsities. Higher Education principal secretary Vikas Raj said, “UGC has issued some new guidelines and the State government is contemplating a few more as well for the appointment of VCs. The process of appointment will take time.”

However, sources said that the appointment of VCs to any of these varsities might not be a reality during this academic year, considering the relevant notification is yet to be released. Once the notification is issued, the process for constitution of a search committee would begin in right earnest. The search committee includes a UGC member, Higher Education Council representative and a representative from the State government. It is learnt that the new UGC norms are not significantly different from the ones released in 2011.

Universities without VC
Osmania University – Hyderabad
Kakatiya University -Warangal
JNTU- Hyderabad
Dr B R A O U- Hyderabad
Palamur University-Mahabubnagar
Telangana University-Nizamabad
Prof Jayashankar Agricultural 
University

Universities having VC
Mahatma Gandhi University
-Nalgonda
Satavahana University-Karimnagar