NEW DELHI: The mandatory National Eligibility Test requirement for teaching jobs could be done away with, but there would be certain riders attached for applying to institutes and universities.
A six-member committee set up under former UGC chairman Arun Nigavekar has favoured dropping the NET requirement. But it has recommended that a candidate could be considered for the post of an assistant professor if he/she has published papers in journals. It has also suggested standardisation of points fetched on publication — at the national level or in international journals.
Should the proposal be implemented, PhD holders who were affected by the UGC 2009 guidelines making NET compulsory, could apply for teaching jobs. The guidelines had come as a big setback for PhD aspirants. The committee was set up in July 24 last year after the affected lot made a representation to HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
As per UGC guidelines of 2009, NET or State Level Eligibility Test is the minimum required for appointment as assistant professor in colleges and universities. The committee will give its report by mid-March.