SAMBALPUR: Enraged over shortage of teachers, the students of Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) sent messages to the mobile number of Higher Education Minister Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi demanding filling up of vacant teaching posts in the varsity.
The students launched the drive near the main entrance of GMU and started sending mass SMSes to the Higher Education Minister at around 12 noon on Thursday.
GMU Students’ Union president Rupesh Sahu said the drive to send SMSes will continue till 5 pm on Friday. At least 4,000 students will send SMSes to the Minister.
Presently, the varsity has 59 faculties, including 13 ad hoc teachers, against the sanctioned strength of 119. While 60 teaching posts are lying vacant in the GMU, four teachers will retire in the next four months. The institute was upgraded into a University on May 30 last year.
In August this year, the students of the institution had boycotted the classes and staged demonstration over shortage of teaching staff. Besides, the students had also organised a rally and staged demonstration in front of district collectorate over the issue.
The students had also called on Finance Minister Pradip Amat during his visit to Sambalpur and submitted a memorandum demanding filling up of the vacant teaching posts.
Admitting shortage of teaching staff, GMU Deputy Registrar Uma Charan Pati said retired teachers and guest faculties are being engaged to manage the situation.