GUNTUR: As many as 11 contract assistant professors of Acharya Nagarjuna University climbed a water tank opposing the screening test for the post of assistant professors in various universities across Andhra Pradesh.Contract Teachers Association leaders Dr. D Ravi Sankara Reddy, Dr. G Giridhar, Dr. K Phanindra and Dr. Srinivasa Rao said, “The committee, which was formed to resolve the issues of the contract assistant professors about a month ago, is yet to deliver its report, but the government is going ahead with the screening tests. The government has not given us any guarantee on the security of our jobs.”
They said that they have 10 years of teaching experience and demanded cancellation of screening test. Meanwhile, Phanindra said there are about 1,567 contract assistant professors working in 14 universities. Some of those jobs will be at risk because of the screening test. This is not fair. Moreover, the exam is against Supreme Court rule.
It may be mentioned here that HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said the decision was taken because of the irregularities in the process of filling posts at the universities. He added that the government does not want to intervene in the autonomy of the universities and the screening test is being conducted only to make the recruitment process more transparent. On knowing about the information, ANU Prof N Samuel, Engineering College principal Prof E Srinivasa Reddy, Pharmacy College principal Prof Pramila Rani, ANU council member K Venkat Rao reached the spot and convinced the contract assistant professors to withdraw their protest and get down.
Screening test questioned
“It is not right on part of the government to make us write the screening test after putting over 10 years of service as contract teachers in the university,” contract professor Srinivasa Rao said.
“Asking the qualified teachers to write a screening test after 10 years of service is against the UGC norms and is unfair. It is against the principle of natural justice,” said Giridhar, another professor.
Filling vacancies through common screening test
The contract assistant professors urge the State government to resolve their grievances before conducting the screening test for the post of assistant professors in various universities across Andhra Pradesh
HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao announced the dates for the screening test through AP Public Service Commission (APPSC) on March 21
The exam will be held from April 9 to 13. The hall tickets for the candidates will be available online from April 3
The screening test will not be held for those universities, which have got stay orders from the court
About 1,109 posts will be filled through the exam