Andhra University Suffering From Faculty Shortage

One of the oldest universities in India is facing a shortage of faculty. Many departments in Andhra University are being run with only one faculty member. The faculty member being supported only by a guest lecturer is affecting the teaching, research and other aspects of the university.

The last recruitment of faculty at the university was done in 2006, with the Art and Science streams awaiting staff to ensure smooth running. With the number of students going up every year, the student-faculty ratio has gone for a toss. 1200 posts were originally sanctioned at the varsity and the rationalisation committee had reduced the post to 900 a year ago.

Right now the university is functioning only on the strength of 350 faculty members that include professors, associate professors and assistant professors. The departments of History, Micro Biology and Organic Chemistry are being run by one faculty each and the department of Education has three faculty. Most of the other departments have no more than five faculty.

The varsity is now relying on guest faculty due to the situation they’re in. Several associate professors have been hired on a contract basis. The Telugu department has also been lacking sufficient faculty members since years. It has more research scholars than other departments but three of the four professors who currently work in the department are going to retire in the next two years.

The Andhra University has guest faculty who are paid on an hourly basis and during previous recruitments, vacancies in engineering branches were filled. The Engineering College has 150 faculty members now. Humanities and Science departments will reportedly be given the next recruitment. 381 posts were earlier sanctioned to AU. The rationalisation committee has reduced the posts for professors and increased the assistant professor posts. The government has even passed a GO to this effect. But the decision was challenged in court, and allegations were made that the committee has no such powers.

The AU will go forward with recruitments as soon as the court vacates the case.