Teachers' crunch in polytechnics.

Bharat Yagnik; TNN; Mar 14, 2011,

AHMEDABAD: It is not just degree engineering colleges that are facing a severe staff crunch. Polytechnic colleges running diploma engineering colleges are in an equally sad situation when it comes to the strength of teachers and principals. Of the 25 polytechnic engineering colleges, 21 colleges do not even have a principal.

The overall staff shortage is 67 per cent, just a little short of the 75 per cent mark in degree engineering colleges. A large number of posts of professors and lecturers too are lying vacant.

The number of positions lying vacant in polytechnic colleges came to fore after former chairman of the Gujarat Technical Examination Board JR Dave filed a Right to Information ( RTI) application. He wanted to know the extent of the problem prevailing in technical colleges. "It is baffling how colleges are functioning with such a severe staff shortage. One wonders what is being taught here and the quality of students who pass out of these colleges. It is high time the state government took some concrete steps to remedy the situation," said Dave.

Officials in the field of technical education said there are some engineering diploma colleges which are running with just two to three junior lecturers. Officials say the situation has gone from bad to worse with over 70 Self-Financed Institutes (SFIs) opening shop in the state. "SFIs have poached most of the senior faculty members by offering lucrative pay packages. A huge number of principals and professors have made the shift from government to SFIs in the past few years," an official said.

Poor salaries are another reason for less number of candidates opting to be teachers in engineering colleges. "In contrast to the state government's fixed pay ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 17,000, students who have completed their ME are easily offered a starting salary of Rs 25,000," said another official.