UGC Rules in Principals' recruitment should be revised/reviewed

Dr. Thangjam Ranjit *

The serious attempt of the Government of Manipur particularly of Education Deptt, to recruit 25 regular College Principals afresh for the Government Colleges of the state through MPSC for the 2nd time, is conmendable and in right direction, considering the immense role of the Principals in improving and restoring quality in higher education.

The issuance of Advt. No. 9/2017 dated 21/07/2017, after cancelling the controversial appointment of 3 principals by the Government in Feb. 2016, following quashing of their appointments by the Hon'ble High Court of Manipur and Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, shows clearly the eagerness and seriousness of the Government. to appoint regular principals and Director of Education ( (Hr. & Tech.) from among the academicians rather than non-academics/bureaucrats.

Interestingly, in the last 2 decades, 14 bureaucrats/IAS, MCS, officers have been serving as Ex-Officer Directors of Education (Hr. & Tech.) and Education (S) as well, instead of academicians from colleges and Hr. Sec. Schools.

If we take a cue from the previous MPSC Advt. No. 3 dated 27/03/2013, in which not a single from among 49 eligible candidates could be qualified for the 25 posts of college principals. The very reasons for the MPSC which failed to recommend/Select Government College principals in the last advertisement was adoption of UGC regulation 2010 by State Government. with API 400 score, non allotment guideship to many college teachers by M.U, non allotment of research scholars to recognised Research guides, among others.

This time in the forthcoming interview to be held, as per Advt.No. 9/2017, API 400 score should not be applied at any cost. If the same API score is applied, there will be hardly any candidate to qualify for the posts of principals and consequently no regular Director of Education (Hr. & Tech.) in the higher education department.

As such the very dream of streamlining and improving quality in Higher Education in the state in the safe hands of regular principals and regular education director will be simply a pipe dream. To ensure appointment of regular college principals in different 25 Government colleges and to bring quality in higher education in the state, Government should modify, redesign, review or revise the UGC regulation 2010, particularly API 400 score to suit the local conditions and needs in holistic manner.

All concerned need to understand that UGC norms are not to be followed in toto as there are exceptions in local conditions and needs. In Manipur and some states of the country, the superannuation is at 65 years, while at others it is 60 and 62 yrs. Again, SCA and TA are paid fully by all other state Government in the country except Manipur.

And Some states follow teaching experience for appointment of principals as per UGC at 15 years and other at 10 years. Even Hindu college, Delhi University has its own regulation for appointment of principal. As such Manipur Government. should issue a separate regulation for the appointment of principal according to local needs and situations and more importantly API 400 score should be reduced to 40% or 50% for the next 5 to 6 years at least.

In neighbouring State Assam API is calculated 40%. In West Bengal research guidance is not considered as essential criterion but desirable.

It may be noted that Manipur and other states in NE are known as Special category state in view of the backwardness of economy and resources and central Government. gives special financial privilege of 90:10 matching grant in all the centre sponsored schemes in contrast to 8:20 in bigger and economically sound states, like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, etc,.

Further, Manipur is amongst the least literate states of the country. Even Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura are ahead of Manipur in literacy and GDP growth rate.

When we talk about higher education it relates with the coming of western/modern education, and Manipur receives it very late in 1980 when Manipur university was established while Calcutta university, Bombay University and Madras University established in 1857, i.e. about 130 years or 3 to 4 generations earlier than Manipur similarly Delhi, Patna, Aligarh, BHU, Jamia, Mysore were established in 1922, 1917, 1875, 1916, 1920 and 1916 respectively, long before Manipur University came into existence.

The difference in advancement of education is very large in these areas is compare to Manipur. That is why Manipur state is lagging far behind other states in India in the field of education and other spheres of life.

Considering the above facts and backwardness of state in higher education in the state, Manipur Government/MPSC may be considerate enough to revise the UGC regulation mainly API 400 score to suit the local needs and situations for bringing quality in higher education in near future in the state.