The Hindu : Contract academics

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 15, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Contract academics

Sir, — I was greatly surprised at the UGC's proposal to have only contract, not tenure, appointments in universities. As the then Director of the Indian School of International Studies (ISIS, a deemed university), the present School of International Studies of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, in the negotiations with the first JNU Vice-Chancellor, G. Parthasarathi, during 1968-1970, this was one of the issues I had successfully objected to in the proposed draft terms of the new JNU, for the merger of the ISIS with the university. Parthasarathi said the contract system had encouraged many American academics to hold high standards. I pointed out that this system works only in some great, private, universities (eg., Harvard, Yale University) and not for all posts either. And that in any case, the contract system does not at all work in a very different society like ours where there is no social security.

M.S. Rajan,

New Delhi

Sir, — The idea floated by the University Grants Commission to hire teachers on a contract basis, though bold, is not acceptable to the teaching community. Only when a teacher is sure of his job will he put in sincere effort. Also, there is a fear that teachers on contract may not be dedicated.

Teachers should welcome assessment and evaluation of their work by students. Only this check will keep them on their toes in search of new trends in knowledge.

S. Ali,

Secunderabad

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