PhD mandatory for recruitment of university teachers from 2021-22: Prakash Javadekar
The government has also done away with the academic performance index as a tool to measure the performance of teachers at the college level.
Published: 13th June 2018 07:59 PM | Last Updated: 13th June 2018 10:40 PM | A+A A-
image used for representational purpose only.
NEW DELHI: The government has made it mandatory for anybody who wishes to join a college or University in India as a teacher to have a PhD from 2021. This was announced by Union Human Resources Development minister Prakash Javadekar in the capital on Wednesday.
At present, master's degree in education and clearing the National Eligibility Test were enough to secure an assistant professor's post at the college and university levels except for central universities where PhD is a must even at entry level.
The government has also done away with the academic performance index as a tool to measure the performance of teachers at the college level. Javadekar also declared that instead of the Academic Performance Index tool, the University Grants Commission has introduced a new, "simplified" teacher evaluation grading system. "Publication of research work in academic journals is no longer a criterion for promotion.
However, teachers can continue to conduct research. This step is to ensure that only those who want to do research carry it out while it will not be mandatory for others," said the HRD minister. The new regulations also make special provisions for recruitment of assistant professors from PhD degree holders who have graduated from a college or university in the top 500 globally. Officials in the ministry clarified that the NET, however, will continue and will largely be used as an entrance test for enrolments into PhD programmes.
Now, only the top scorers in NET get Junior Research Fellowships while everyone who qualifies it is eligible to apply as a teacher in an institute of higher education. The new regulations also mandate introduction of one month induction programme for newly recruited assistant professors.
Also, for the first time, weightages are assigned for promotions of teachers in respect of online courses and e-content in universities and colleges. A statement by the ministry said that research clusters will be created in the universities within the state for sharing research facilities, skills and infrastructure to ensure optimal utilization of resources and creating synergies amongst higher education institutions.
