Recent study shows three-fourth of the faculty in 150 colleges have no teaching experience
B.Tech. graduates teaching B.Tech. students. This phenomenon is not restricted to new colleges but also exists in established engineering colleges, reflecting the shortage of experienced faculty and its effect on the quality of graduates.
FIGURES TALK
Three-fourth of the faculty in more than 150 established colleges do not have teaching experience, if the figures revealed in a study conducted are to be believed.
The study was done by a committee constituted by the State government on “Suggesting the Modalities and Remedial Measures to Strengthen Un-Aided Professional Institutions to Maintain High Standards of Education.”
The report was submitted to the government but is yet to be made public. Interestingly, these figures pertain to colleges that are more than four years old.
LESS TEACHERS WITH PG
The number of faculty with a Post-graduate degree too isn't encouraging. In 10 colleges, not a single teacher with a PG exists, while in 17 colleges the number ranges from just one to 20. Only 32 colleges have PG teachers ranging from 100 to 200 on their rolls.
And the State has more than 700 engineering colleges.
The percentage of professors too is very shocking. Only one college can boast of 20 per cent of their faculty being professors, while the same exists in just one to five per cent in 136 colleges and six to 10 per cent in 60 colleges. About 11 colleges do not have even a single professor.
The lack of good teachers is certainly reflecting on the pass percentage of the colleges, particularly in the first year where students are exposed to engineering subjects for the first time. The report reveals that the pass percentage is less than 60 in 188 colleges of which it is merely 21 to 40 per cent in 77 colleges and less than 20 per cent in 36 colleges.
Only two colleges have more than 80 per cent of their students clearing all their papers.
Admitting that the shortage of quality teachers has indeed resulted in poor quality products, a former Vice Chancellor of JNTU Hyderabad says that even the job market reveals this. “The NASSCOM reports too say that less than 20 per cent of engineering graduates are employable,” he reminds adding that the indiscriminate sanction of engineering colleges is directly responsible for this.
COLLEGE RESPONSE BAD
An official involved in the process said that colleges have not responded positively to the Faculty Development Programmes (FDP) to improve quality of teachers. “Things are not likely to improve if colleges do not show interest,” he said.
