Karnataka: Faculty shortage causes panic among students in government colleges

Students from approximately 430 government first-grade colleges in Karnataka are facing mounting anxiety as exams approach, and full-fledged classes have yet to begin. The issue stems from a severe shortage of guest faculty, with many colleges struggling to fill vacant teaching posts in time for the academic year's crucial final exams.

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A recent meeting between the state’s Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar and Law Minister HK Patil failed to resolve the crisis. The shortage can be traced back to a 2018 directive by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which mandated that guest faculty must possess NET, SET, SLET, or PhD qualifications. This policy led to the removal of around 5,000 guest lecturers, many of whom have decades of experience and are now pursuing legal recourse. Related cases remain pending in court, further complicating recruitment efforts.

Only 9,000 guest faculty were appointed last year

With 11,000 lecturer positions across these colleges, only 9,000 guest faculty were appointed last year. In a bid to address the issue, the government has reduced the maximum class size to 75 students, thereby increasing the number of required faculty positions. Despite this, many colleges still rely heavily on guest lecturers, and appointments remain delayed.

Student organizations, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO), have begun staging protests, demanding swift resolution of the crisis. Meanwhile, the government is considering extending the academic term to make up for lost class time.