COIMBATORE: Assistant professors have urged the Directorate of Collegiate Education (DCE) to fill up vacant posts at the government B.Ed colleges through guest lecturers as a temporary measure.
A faculty member at a B.Ed college, who did not wish to be named, told TNIE that seven government B.Ed colleges are functional in the state, and since 2009, not a single regular appointment has been made.
"For instance, the sanctioned regular teaching staff strength at the B.Ed College for Women in Coimbatore is 22. At present, 11 teaching staff work in regular posts, five work as guest lecturers, and the remaining posts are vacant.
Although workload has increased, existing teaching staff manage classes considering the students' education needs," he said. He added that, like in Coimbatore, posts are also vacant in colleges at Pudukkottai, Orathanadu, and other centres.
He further said that, as per the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) norm, all staff should be appointed to regular posts, but the higher education department refrains from following this. He demanded that the DCE should at least ensure that guest lecturers are appointed to vacant posts in B.Ed colleges, so that students receive proper education.
Another faculty member told TNIE that the state government has taken steps through the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB), to fill up 2,708 vacant posts in government arts and science colleges and B.Ed colleges, adding that he welcomed this move.
However, the state government has failed to take similar steps to fill up vacant posts in B.Ed colleges, pointing out that only one post each in subjects such as History and Biological Science has been notified through the TRB, he added. He further said that there are vacant posts for History at colleges in Coimbatore and Chennai.
When contacted, a top official from the higher education department told TNIE that he would look into this.