Varsity to review teachers’ credentials

Following the heated exchanges during the recent University of Pune (UoP) senate meeting over the appointment of Local Inquiry Committee (LIC), the varsity will now don a new role. It has decided to review the credentials of teachers to improve the quality of education in over 600 affiliated colleges.

A reminder circular issued recently by the varsity mentions that the teachers of various colleges have to update their personal information, including academic qualifications, area of research, and students under doctoral programme. The teachers will have to update the info by the month end.

A varsity source said that the circular has been issued after serious charges were made against the LIC regarding the monopoly of a few people who were regular in the committee and their dominance in the varsity affairs.

Vice chancellor WN Gade told DNA, “It has been observed that there are a few colleges which don’t have qualified teachers. Similarly, there are colleges which lack proper infrastructure. Despite these shortcomings, the LIC’s reports were positive.”
He added that the same people were appointed over and over again due to the unavailability of data of well qualified teachers.

Senior senate member Gajanan Ekbote said, “It is true that many a time the credentials of LIC were doubted. Money does exchange hands as despite no infrastructure, a college would get permission to run courses. Similarly, even if the faculty is not qualified, students are passing out of the colleges without any difficulty.”

He also alleged that the varsity officials visit various committees and never give opportunity for college people to be in the LIC.

Circular issued asking teachers of over 600 colleges to update their qualification