Another incident where uproar wins over wisdom
NET Is No Longer Compulsory To Become A Professor, Thanks To Team Smriti Irani
Before I write the justification for the title of this post. Let me write the context for you to understand this matter if you have decided to read this post without going through two above mentioned web links.
The Context
" The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday, i.e 12 Arpil 2016, amended its regulation on faculty recruitment to relax the minimum eligibility conditions for appointment of assistant professors in colleges and universities.
The higher education regulator, on advise of the HRD Ministry, exempted candidates registered for M.Phil/PhD programme before July 11, 2009, from clearing the National Eligbility Test (NET) or the State-Level Eligibility Test (SLET) in order to become eligible for appointment as assistant professors in colleges and universities. The decision was taken at UGC’s commission meeting on Monday and was announced by HRD Minister Smriti Irani the same evening."
Supreme Court Verdict
In 2015, the apex court actually held the UGC 2009 notification right, making it mandatory for candidates aspiring to be Assit. Professors to qualify UGC-NET or SLET examination if they want to teach in higher educational institutions. As the court believed that it would ensure good quality of teachers teaching under-graduate and post-graduate courses.
What all is overlooked
1. This incident is not the first of its kind where supreme court wisdom has been spoiled due to agitating protestors or lured by popularism notion.
2. Perhaps in this debate we have overlooked the mindset which a teacher must have; of being a good learner first. If one is a genuine person who wants to be a Lecturer/Assit. Professor; essentially a teacher. Then he/she must be driven by the passion to learn all by himself/herself first. If UGC-NET is the prerequisite, so let it be.
3. Yes.. this amendment from UGC provides relief to few hundreds of the candidates. Though it comes at the cost of opportunity lost to thousands/lakhs/crores of students for learning from teachers who themselves have qualified the very examinations, they are preparing their students for.
4. If you justify earning a Ph.D equivalent to UGC-NET qualifying. Then its like comparing Oranges with Apples, exactly what this amendment has done. A Doctorate degree is a piece of research-work done for a specific enquiry. But if you see the UGC-NET syllabus, it very judiciously evaluates participants knowledge in his/her subject and what readiness he/she must have to venture into the role a teacher; including the use of ICT, just to name one aspect.
What alternatively could have been done
For those who have found a respite through this amendment, the alternate option could have been to make all these candidates sit for UGC-NET examinations even if their age is over. So it would have given them a chance to appear and if qualified, to come out like a winner. If it was needed, 2-3 attempts could have been given to them.
Why it upsets me
I have qualified UGC-JRF in 2011 for Psychology subject while serving the armed forces in my first attempt without any coaching or external tuition. The only reason for my success was the passion I have for this subject and the insights it facilitates to its followers. And then decided not to do Ph.D but teach and train students to LEARN RIGHT through conducting behavioural training programs. As it makes them ready to take on any examinations and qualify it without being worried about the concession (short cut) sought through other route. I mean that where is the passion and preparation-support (teachers, parents,) which fuels one to take on an examination, in general a challenging opportunity?
The last time
I felt the same unrest when government decided to remove board examinations for 10th students and making no fail policy for all students until they reach 12th standard. Few educators and parents shouted 'Stress - Stress' and policy maker found a chance to score well with the public (popularism notion), ditching the wisdom. People of my age (I am 37 yrs old) have undergone/appeared for board examination for 8, 10, 12 class. I too felt stressed but the support-system in my home was bigger than any external stressor. I came out like a winner and tasted no failure for any of the successive examinations, I undertook. The initial years are the formative years and it casts a young mind for the good or bad he/she would do in the coming years.
For last few years we have seen the post-effect of that unthoughtful decision to remove failing-system; poor learning outcome and more stress are just the top ones to report. Now government again is thinking to reinstate old practice. It would again not work if we grown up don't understand that each challenge is the opportunity for the young minds to learn better and do have a sense of winning over difficulties. This actually helps our wards in real life outside their school, college boundaries and is the objective of a good education system. Yes, we need to be there to ensure that they learn right and are prepared well. I am surprised that as society and system we have become maniac and petrified about failure, in actual or fear of it. ' Fear of failure ' I might take it very soon through another post.