The assessment given by students will be one of the deciding factors for teacher promotions at the university level from the next academic year. The expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), headed by former University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Arun Nigavekar, is all set to submit this as one of its recommendations by the end of January. According to committee members, so far they have conducted five consultations in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chandigarh. “We have been asked to examine the ways to retain young talents in the teaching profession. During our meetings, everyone stressed the importance of students’ assessment,” a member said. Only students who have an attendance of 75 per cent or more will be allowed to participate in the assessment. The assessment will be done online and the committee is working out a system similar to the one in practice at the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. The members refused to reveal the weightage that will be given to students’ assessment. “We will get the final picture after the January 13 meeting,” a member said.
NO GOING AROUND THE NET
The expert committee is also going to recommend making National Eligibility Test (NET) mandatory for recruitment of faculty at both UG and PG levels. “Under the present system, some universities and states are considering even PhD holders as eligible. NET should be must to take up teaching at the university level,” a member said.