To the Education Minister, MU and MPSC : MA(Edn) Vs M Ed

Dr Robiya, Dr Sanjoy, Ch Hemanta & Munidro *

Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) Building in Imphal in March 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

The argument regarding the appointment of Asst.Professor in the Education Department of the Government College is of great concern. The controversy arises from the two degrees one is MA( Education) and another is M.Ed. Recently MPSC conducted the selection test for the appointment of Asst. Professors in various Department under the Government colleges.

In this regard, those M.Ed degrees holders were rejected in advance but the MPSC allowed them to appear the said test on the ground that they are eligible and equivalent to M.A.(Education) as per the Norms of the UGC and NCTE and consequently they had been informed to collect their Admit Card on or before 9 a.m of the 27th October for the selection Test by the MPSC.

MPSC permitted them to sit the screening test. Thus the test was conducted calmly. On the other hand, those M.Ed. Degree holder were rejected in the case of Higher Secondary Post. It is contradictory statement of the Manipur Public Service Commission. Decision of the MPSC is partial regarding these two matter in Education Subject, which is not a right decision, because those M.Ed. degree are also rejected as per MPSC Notification and again they are allowed to appear the said written examination.

Now the issue is that whether those M.Ed. degree holders are eligible for the said post. So far the knowledge of the UGC is concerned, no norms and regulations state the equivalency of these degree holders. UGC states that it does not determine equivalence between degrees in reply to the clarification and suggestions regarding Scheme of Examination and equivalency of Master Degree in different subject regarding sought by MPSC letter No. 7/15/2014-MPSC(DR) Dated 27.02.2015.

Further UGC mentions that for employment purpose the employer organization decides the equivalence according to its recruitment rules and suitability of educational qualification to the requirement of the post and for higher education purposes, equivalence is determined by the university concerned.

On the other hand, MA (Education) is meant for the academic and it is the Master of Arts. So, the said post is meant for those candidates who passed M.A.(Education) not for M.Ed. Here, the qualifications prescribed for the faculty positions in the regulation of NCTE is not required for the appointment of Asst. Professor of general colleges even though they may be the authority concerned for National Council For Teacher Education.

For B.Ed/ M.Ed.colleges, NCTE regulation will be followed in the appointment of teachers. The present requirement of Asst. Professor is not that B.Ed./ M.Ed colleges but of purely general colleges.

MA (Education) is a Master of Arts in Education and is thereby an academic qualification like Master Degree in History, Political Science, Economics etc, whereas M.Ed is a professional qualification quite different in approach and content. While one is purely academic the other is practical based. In Manipur University context, M.A in Education can't be studied by any graduate except those who offered in the degree course either Hons. or gereral in Education.

But for M.Ed course any graduate with B.Ed is eligible. Even a graduate with B.Ed is not eligible for studying M.A in education in the present context. Manipur University had demarcated the line of studies for the two courses specifically.

Further, the following facts will be the guiding principles for a clear- cut demarcation in the appointment for the post of Asst. Professor in the Government Colleges and Manipur University especially in the Department of Education, based on the directives of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

(a) "As per the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Dr. Prit Singh Vs S.K. Mangal and others,1993 Supp(l) SSC 714 had held that the degree of Master of Arts is an academic qualification, whereas degree of Master of Education is a professional qualification. Their Lordships had further held that when the qualifications required "a consistently good academic record with first or high second class (55% marks/ grade B in the seven point scale) Master's degree in any subject", it shall mean an academic qualification like Master of Arts."

(b) "Mr. Sanjeev Bhushan, learned counsel appearing on behalf of petitioner in CWP No. 4489/2012 has placed strong reliance on Dr. Ram Sevak vs. Dr. U.P. Singh and others, (1992) 2 SCC 189. In Dr. Ram Sevak Singh case, the Master's Degree or an equivalent degree of a foreign university in one of the subject allied or interconnected therewith was the minimum essential qualification. However, in the case in hand, the minimum essential qualification prescribed is at least 2na Class Master's Degree in Arts/ Science or its equivalent from a recognized University. M.Ed. can't be treated as Master's degree in Arts/ Science."

It may be pertinent to mention that these Supreme Court directives were quoted by the Hon'ble High Court of Himachal Pradesh , Simla, in CWP No. 4489/2012 along with CWP No. 750/2014, decided on 5/9/2014.

Resolution No.2 of the Departmental Meeting of Education Department of Manipur University held on 31/10/2015 resolved that " M.A ( Education) is Master of Arts in Education and M.Ed is Master of Education. They are not equivalent as M.A (Education) is purely academic and M.Ed is a professional. So, their apex bodies are different."

In connection with this matter Manipur University has to clarify whether (Master of Arts), M.A. Education and M.Ed. is equivalent or not. Regarding this matter, Hon'ble Education Minister is requested to look into the matter and also to make right decision about the demarcation of the two subjects.

In conclusion, these two degrees are different from each other. Degree of Masters of Education(M.Ed.) is a professional Degree and not equivalent to Degree of Masters of Arts. Since M.A (Education) is Master of Arts, it is not equivalent to M.Ed. Therefore, those M.Ed degree holders had better go in their professional course in place of Academic course. Manipur university must not act against its rules and regulations made by itself and in favor of some vested interest. Let our University be one of the best University in India and save Education Department as well as the carrier of those students who offer Education as a subject from the foundation course.

Please refer:
1. Verdict of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, 1992 and 1993.
2. Verdict of the Hon'ble High Court of the Himachal Pradesh, Shimla.
3. Rules and Regulations of the UGC-2010.
4. Resolution of the Education Department, Manipur University held on 31st October, 2015.