COIMBATORE: The task force on faculty shortage and design of performance and appraisal system constituted by the Central Government has estimated that there was a shortage of more than three lakh faculty members in higher education institutions in the country.“Besides the present shortage, in the coming decade it will increase at the rate of 1,00,000 faculty a year. This clearly needs massive mobilisation of resources and a policy framework to ensure that the growing higher education system maintains quality standards,” the task force noted.The Ministry of Human Resource Development set up the Task Force on Faculty Shortage and Design of Performance and Appraisal System headed by IIT Kanpur Director S K Dhande in January this year.The force has consulted several Vice-Chancellors, representatives of the regulatory bodies, students and faculty members and has prepared a report for addressing the issue of Faculty Shortage and Performance Appraisal. It submitted its report to Union Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal.“Every academic institution should have an independent faculty recruitment and development cell to be headed by a senior faculty member, who will report to the head of institution.” “The Task Force strongly feels that all administrative cobwebs should be removed so as to ensure smooth process of induction and promotion of faculty cadre,” the task force has proposed.It noted that administrative hindrances and delays were a major impediment in creating a good strength of faculty members. Inappropriate arrangements for hiring the service of guest faculty and faculty on contract should be stopped.The task force has also proposed a novel scheme of inducting young men and women in the academic profession, even while they were pursing their academic career. It also felt that measures of appreciation such as honours and awards should be offered to those faculty members whose services were outstanding.
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