Central universities across the country are low on faculty, with vacant posts of faculty members as many as 5,606. Even Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are facing the same issue. There are 2,806 vacancies in prestigious IITs.
Following IITs is National Institutes of Technology (NIT) and Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology which have 1,870 vacant positions. Even Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) has 258 vacancies.
Apart from these institutes, several Indian Institutes of Information technology (IIITs) have 324 vacant posts, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) have 96, Indian Institutes of Science (IISc), Bengaluru has 88, whereas Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) have 100 vacant posts.
“Occurring of vacancies and filling these up is a continuous process. The vacancies keep on arising due to retirement, resignation and additional requirements on account of enhanced students’ strength,” NDTV quoted a senior HRD Ministry official as saying.
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“The institutions are adopting various measures to address faculty shortage in order to ensure that studies of students are not affected which inter-alia, includes engaging research scholars, contract, re-employed, adjunct and visiting faculty. The institutions also publish a year-round rolling advertisement to attract faculty,” the official added.
In another such news, a parliamentary panel has asked the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to address All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) manpower shortage. The panel has suggested formulating a personnel policy, covering optimum staff ratio.
There are 245 vacancies in the faculty and 2,025 vacancies in the non-faculty staff strength of AIIMS, situated in New Delhi. Apart from this, there are 1,303 vacancies in the faculty of six new AIIMS established in the country.
The issue is critical and deserves prior importance. Lack of manpower in the health sector needs attention. If there will be no faculty, how will students be taught. This is even more concerning as these are the number of vacancies open in the most eminent and prestigious institutions of the country.