TEACHERS, STUDENTS, NON-TEACHERS AND OTHER ISSUES
[Teachers . Non-Teaching Staff . Students . Students Employment
Committee. Advisory Bureau. Corporate life Public Relations .
Strikes . Code of Conduct]
17.0 TEACHERS IN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
[A] TEACHER PARTICIPATION IN MANAGEMENT The teachers and the students constitute the central core in the dynamics of the University system. Hence TEACHER-PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING AND IMPLEMENTATION AT VARIOUS STAGES OF UNIVERSITY ORGANISATION NEED, NOT ONLY BE PROVIDED FOR BUT ALSO BE FOSTERED BY A CONDUCIVE STRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENT. The teachers should be given specific role-assignments and representation in the following areas:
[a] The teachers must duly participate in designing curriculum and academic regulations by representation in Board of Studies, Faculties, Academic Council, etc.;
[b] Teachers' representation in Planning Board, Finance Committee, Executive Council and Senate (or Consultative Council) becomes essential to provide academic input to these authorities;
[c] The bodies dealing with teacher welfare, service conditions, grievance redressal etc., should also contain a few teacher representatives;
[d] Officers at the level of Pro-Vice- Chancellor/functional Deans/Registrars/Directors should be chosen from amongst the faculty members of the University and thereby ensure the functional link between the academics and the administration;
[e] TEACHER-PARTICIPATION, HOWEVER, SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DEGENERATE INTO TEACHER-POLITICKING IN UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION; REPRESENTATION IN AUTHORITIES/BODIES SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON THE BASIS OF SENIORITY BY ROTATION OR BY MEANS OF NOMINATION; ELECTION SHOULD NOT BE THE MODE OF TEACHER REPRESENTATION.
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[B] TEACHER WELFARE: The Welfare facilities for the Teachers may be divided into:-
[a] Conducive working conditions and environment; and
[b] Welfare facilities in addition to the remuneration.
These conditions and facilities should include:-
[1] Individual teacher's office room with adequate provisions, staff lounges, Departmental libraries, personal contingency and stationery grants etc.;
[2] Residential quarters at reasonable rent, facilities of community/corporate life such as cultural / recreational activities;
[3] Medical facilities;
[4] Leave travel facilities for self and family as also travel facilities for making library reference works in the advanced centres of the nation, visiting industrial centres, visits abroad attending Conferences and Seminars etc.,
[5] The Teacher Welfare Committee should continuously review, monitor and improve upon the availability and utilisation of the welfare facilities.
[C] MOBILITY OF TEACHERS In order to promote the mobility of teachers not only within the University System but also between the University System and other related sectors, it would be necessary to give them all the monetary and retirement benefits of their past services whenever they move from one organisation i.e. University / College, Research Laboratories etc to a University / College.
17.1 NON-TEACHING STAFF IN THE UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT We are of the view that the non-teaching and technical staff should give their views on university's functioning through Consultative Committees and in particular their suggestions should be valuable for improvement of training, health and other welfare facilities etc., as also for improving their service conditions.
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There should be a Consultative Committee of 10-15 persons to be nominated by the University representing administrative, scientific, technical and library services etc. headed by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor. One or two teachers should also be members of this Committee.
Faculties/departments be delegated greater authority to resolve the grievances of Karamcharies based on University policies.
Universities and colleges should formulate a Code of Conduct for the non-teaching employees.
WHILE THERE COULD BE SOME REPRESENTATION OF THE NON-TEACHING AND TECHNICAL STAFF ON THE SENATE/COURT WHICH ARE DELIBERATING BODIES, THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY REPRESENTATION ON OTHER AUTHORITIES OR BODIES OF THE UNIVERSITY.
The emoluments of the Officer cadre non-teaching staff are already on par with those of teachers in most of the Universities. Their qualification and selection should also be at par or comparative. Once this is achieved, the officer cadre could be manned by personnel from the corresponding teaching cadres, deputed from their Departments for periods of 3 to 5 years. We have recommended that Registrars be appointed for a five year term, which could be co-terminus with that of the ViceChancellor. This could be more effectively implemented if they were to be selected from amongst the teachers of the University/Colleges.
The academic staff of the Universities has been brought on a uniform basis of remuneration under the UGC scales of pay. The non-teaching staff is still governed by varied practices due to the "autonomy" of Universities. A stage has now been reached when they too should have uniform conditions of service in the State. WE, RECOMMEND THAT THE NON-TEACHING STAFF OF UNIVERSITES SHOULD BE DEEMED TO BE EQUIVALENT TO THE EMPLOYEES OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY GET THE SAME SCALES OF PAY AND THE SAME ALLOWANCES AS THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES FROM THE SAME DATES. THEIR CONDITIONS OF SERVICE SHOULD BE IDENTICAL.
There is no uniform approach in the pay scales of nonteaching staff in deemed Universities. WE RECOMMEND THAT DEEMED UNIVERSITIES RECEIVING 100% MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, FROM THE COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE THE SAME SCALES OF PAY AS IN THE CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES. THE OTHER DEEMED UNIVERSITIES MAY HAVE THE STATE GOVERNMENT SCALES OF PAY LIKE STATE UNIVERSITIES.
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17.2 STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT We are of the view that students should be involved directly or indirectly in the management of the Universities as indicated below :
1. STUDENTS SHOULD PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN THE ORGANISATION OF CORPORATE LIFE, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, GAMES AND SPORTS, ACADEMIC SOCIETIES, HOSTELS ETC.
2. There should be Students Advisory Committees at the level of the Department, Faculty and the University consisting of meritorious* students under the chairmanship of the Head/Dean/Vice-Chancellor, where they could express their views on important academic questions like the structure of courses, the contents of syllabi, pattern of instruction and examination, research etc. as also for the better working of the University. The suggestions made by the students should be given due consideration by the appropriate authorities or bodies of the University.
The above committees should be constituted by giving due representation to a few teachers, research scholars, postgraduate and undergraduate students (full-time or parttime) with a total of about 10-15 in number. Students should be nominated on the basis of merit and should not be elected. Teachers would do well to individually get feed back on the style and quality of their teaching from the out- going students of final year classes. The students should not be required to sign their names on such feed-back sheets.
Students participation in Universitiy Management should be on the following lines:
1. STUDENTS SHALL BE GIVEN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE SENATE/COURT, BUT NOT IN THE OTHER BODIES LIKE SYNDICATE, BOARD OF STUDIES AND ACADEMIC COUNCILS ETC.
2. THE REPRESENTATION OF STUDENTS SHALL BE CHOSEN BY NOMINATION BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OR PRO-VICECHANCELLOR OR DEAN OF STUDENT WELFARE ON THE BASIS OF MERIT IN CURRICULAR, CO-CURRICULAR AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
3. Student participation should be encouraged in the following forums;
(a] Committee Organisations concerned with the corporate life, extra and co-curricular activities.
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[b] Advisory Committee for halls of residence hostels etc.
[C] Committee for games, social service and cultural activities.
17.2.1 STUDENTS WELFARE AND SERVICES The concept of Student's Welfare embraces a wide range of factors some of which relate directly to the class-room, laboratory and library activities of students and some of which supplement the educational programmes but are per so not a part of it. The latter are activities that enhance the health, social well-being and morale of the students such as residence, food, entertainment, medical care and extra curricular programmes etc. All these factors together constitute "Students Welfare" as an integrated and total concept,
The Kothari Commission (1964-66) recognised that "major weakness of the existing system of education is the failure to provide adequately for students welfare". It further recognised the students services to be "not merely a welfare activity but constitute an integral part of education".
Following the recommendations of the Kothari Commission, almost all the Universities in India. have now the post of Dean of Students' Welfare. However, there are problems and subjects that could be tackled effectively in a democratic manner through the University level Committee. In view of the importance of the matter, we are of the view that it is desirable to have a Committee to deal with all important matters of students' Welfare in which students must be involved.
The Universities in Maharashtra have Students' Council with the Vice- Chancellor as ex-officio President. Although the Vice-Chancellor is the ex-officio President, the student members elect from among themselves the Chairman and the Secretary of the Council. The Committee is dominated by representatives of students and its functions are as under;
1. to supervise and co-ordinate the activities of the different Students' Associations, societies and other organisations;
2. to recommend to the Executive Council, the financial allocation to be made for the activities to be undertaken under the relevant budgetary heads;
3. to allocate funds for the different activities of the students' associations, societies and other organisations, as sanctioned by the Executive Council;
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9 4. to submit an Annual Report of its work, together with a statement of its accounts to the Executive Council, within a date to be fixed by it;
5.to make recommendations to the Executive Council regarding any matter affecting the corporate life or welfare of the students and
6. to make recommendations to the Executive Council regarding the facilities existing for instruction.
There is another Statutory Committee in the University to implement the policy decisions of the Council. This Committee is known as Students' Executive Union.
In the State of Madhya Pradesh, there is, a State level Statutory Committee which includes besides students, two Vice-Chancellors, two Registrars, two Deans of Students Welfare and one officer of the Education Department of the State. The Committee elects its own Chairman for every meeting from among the members present.
The terms of reference of the Committee deal with the following:
1. the approach to Higher Education in Universities.
2. academic programmes of general significance.
3. organisation and programming of teaching work and examinations.
4. extra-curricular and co-curricular activities in colleges and Universities including organisation of Inter-University competitions and tournaments and youth festivals.
5. student welfare activities in Universities including Health Services.
6. work experience programmes for students.
7. organisation of social service by students.
8. residence and discipline of students, and
9. any other matter of interest to students in general.
WE ARE OF THE VIEW THAT THE CONSTITUTION OF A STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE AS IN MADHYA PRADESH WOULD CERTAINLY HELP IN PROMOTING AND STRENGTHENING WELFARE PROGRAMMES FOR THE STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, EVERY UNIVERSITY SHOULD HAVE A STUDENT COUNCIL AS IN THE UNIVERSITIES IN MAHARASHTRA. The Students' Council should deal with:-
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1. orientation of new students.
2. health services.
3. residential facilities.
4. vocational guidance and counselling including placement;
5. student activities.
6. financial assistance to students.
7. co-curricular activities, and
8. students discipline.
There should be similar committees in the Colleges. We believe that programmes of students' welfare have a salutary effect on the attitudes and performance of the students towards creating an atmosphere for serious studies and disciplined behaviour.
STATE COUNCILS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION OR THE COMMITTEE OF VICE- CHANCELLORS IN THE STATE SHOULD GIVE DUE ATTENTION TO STUDENTS WELFARE AND SERVICES IN THE UNIVERSITIES.
17.2.2 STUDENTS EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE WE ARE OF THE VIEW THAT THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE COLLEGES SHOULD HAVE A STUDENTS EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE. THESE COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE CLOSE LIAISON WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYMENT AGNECIES with a view to finding their requirements of trained personnel and giving advice to respective Boards of Studies to frame courses, full-time or part-time, or through Correspondence and Distance Education in order to provide necessary expertise.
It is essential to have a regular analysis of job potential and to provide students with various kinds of jobs, temporary and part-time, full-time and short-term so that the growing number and kinds of needs of the community are met with and at the same time giving students a chance to be self-reliant. The University and the community can come closer in this manner and education could be made more relevant to the needs of the country.
The broad functions of the Committee could be -
[i] to concern itself with finding employment for students and for this purpose establishing close liaison with:
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[a] state planning agencies to plan new opening for students,
[b] local government administration,
[C] the government personnel departments and employment agencies,
[d] industry and industrial organisations,
[e] the business community,
[f] agricultural and medical organisations, and
[g] social institutions and other organisations.
[ii] to be in touch with the Boards of Studies and the Academic Council for starting new courses within and outside the regular curriculum.
The Committee could be under the Chairmanship of a Senior Dean to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor and to include 2-3 Professors, 2-3 representatives from industry, public / private undertakings as also 4-5 representatives of students.
We would particularly like to emphasise that GREATER EMPHASIS SHOULD BE GIVEN BY THE STUDENTS EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR THE STUDENTS DURING LONG VACATIONS AND IF POSSIBLE RELATED TO THE CURRICULAR PROGRAMMES BEING PURSUED BY THE STUDENTS AS IS BEING DONE FOR STUDENTS OF MANAGEMENT COURSES.
17.2.3 STUDENTS ADVISTORY BUREAU Students, play a very vital role in higher education. They are the direct beneficiaries of higher education on the one side and their development is the indicator of the effectivensess of higher education in the country.
There are Students Advisory Bureaus at several universities. Those Bureaus must be toned up to act as living, throbbing and vibrant units for keeping and dispensing of information, counselling and servicing the students in regard to several of their needs.
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17.2.4 STUDENTS UNIONS The University Enquiry Commission, Bihar (1983) in its Interim Report made the following observation with regard to Students Union:
" The institution of Students Union in universities and colleges has proved harmful for proper academic work and other healthy activities of the university. There is considerable silent resentment against the activities of the Union among the more serious students who are concerned with their studies and careers. Elections to the unions have enabled political parties and teacher politicians to lavish considerable moniesand to utlise "student power "for their narrow party ends. It has also introduced in the university elements of violence, crime and fear in the lives of the otherwise quiet university community. It has also unnecessarily and artificially directed the student energies to the single purpose of confrontation with the authorities with no other purpose than to build up their image as 'leaders' in struggle against authoritarion rule which of course is not there. The other healthy, academic and cultural activities of the university and colleges are subordinated to the unions and wither away or remain almost unnoticed. Delays and postponement of examinations which are caused by agitations led by unions seriously affect the careers of those who miss opportunities for appearing at various competitive examinations in time. It is recognised that student unions have done no good to the universities nor to the students and that they have introduced elements of hatred and violence in the academic community and encouraged use of unfair means for passing university examinations. Things have reached a stage when use of unfair means is a matter of right of students and measures to prevent it are considered anti-student. "
In the same Report, it is further stated that it is, therefore, necessary that Acts and Statutes should provide for creation of a variety of students organisations, including students union with the stipulation that membership of these bodies is voluntary and students have option, depending upon their interest, to join whatever organisation they wish to. For example, it should be open to a student to join a science club and / or a historical society and /or a geographical society and / or a literary club and / or students union or no society at all. It should not be compulsory for him to join students union or any other particular body. He should be free to join activities suited to his taste and liking. Constitution, aims and objects as well as method of working of each body should have prior approval of the university authorities and
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be recognised by it in order to ensure that their activities are healthy and academically sound. It is necessary also to provide that the university and the colleges shall not collect subscription from the students for membership of any of these bodies, but it shall have the right to know how the money is collected, maintained and spent. Each body shall be accountable to the University and the Colleges concerned. The University should also undertake to provide financial and other aids to these bodies depending upon their performance".
The Committee appointed by the University Grants Commission to go into the working of the Central Universities also examined the role of the students' union in depth and came to the conclusion that it is the student union which is generally responsible for agitations in the universities. Although, an important aim mentioned in the constitutions of the students union is to foster corporate life amongst the students through debates, symposia, study circles / social and cultural activities, games and sports etc., the unions have generally taken upon themselves the role of mobilising support for agitations and populist causes. Rowdies and musclemen are hired from outside to instigate trouble and in some causes even university hostels have become a haven for criminals. Such persons rather than meritorious students come to play a dominant role in the politics of the unions. Also, the unions which are governed by the constitutions, are by no means democratic. Considering these matters, the Committee has recommended to the universities an elaborate system of student participation in affairs connected with academic, extra- curricular and residential life which would render the student unions more or less superfluous. It has also recommended the following points, violation of which, would constitute indiscipline:
No student of the University shall:-
[a] Disrupt teaching, study, research or administrative work, or prevent any member of the university and its staff from carrying on his work, or do any act reasonably likely to cause such disruption or prevention.
[b] Damage or deface any property of the university or do any act reasonably likely to cause such damage or defacing; and
[C] Engage in any conduct which is, or is reasonably likely to be, clearly detrimental to the University's purpose,
It has also been recommended that certain forms of agitation such as gherao, camping inside the boundaries of houses of teachers and officers, use of derogatory slogans, propaganda to incite hatred and violence and destruction of property
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should be banned. Finally, it has been suggested that there should be no qualms of conscience about infringement of university autonomy if the police is called in to protect lives and properties and to help in restoring the normal functioning of the university.
We are of the view that the state of functioning of the Student's Unions in the Universities are by and large in the same situation as stated by the Enquiry Commission on Bihar Universities. WE ARE OF THE VIEW THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE BIHAR UNIVERSITY ENQUIRY COMMISSION AS ALSO BY THE CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE BE ADOPTED IN THE OTHER UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.
17.3 CORPORATE LIFE The need for developing a corporate life in universities and colleges is a basic pre-requisite of the proper functioning of a university. The Education Commission had recommended that provision of a variety of students welfare facilities would help the students to adjust themseleves to their environment and keep them engaged in healthy activities. It was also suggested that there should be closer contact between the teachers and the students and the latter should be entrusted with a greater degree of responsibility in the management of services that are intended for their benefit.
We attach a great importance to the corporate life in universities because a lot of learning experiences of great value are just an out-come of such a life. We are of the view that students should manage their activities such as hostels, messes, sports, games, cultural programmes debates, excursions, educational tours, departmental societies etc., individually or under the guidance of their teachers.
The effective participation of students in the organisation of these activities could be brought about through the constitution of appropriate Committees. The student members of these Committees should be those who are actively interested and are competent in such activities. The Dean of Student Welfare should play an important role in promoting the co-curricular, extra curricular and social activities of the students. Authorities of the universities and colleges should secure the active cooperation of students in the maintenance of discipline. Serious acts of indiscipline should be referred to a Discipline Committee which may also include student representatives.
Building corporate life at the campus, particularly centring around student amenities, curricular and co- curricular activities need the supporting services and guidance of the
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counsellor at every point. AN INTERGRATED WELL THOUGHT OUT CONUNSELLING SERVICE ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS SUCH AS ACADEMIC, MARRIAGE, SEX, SPORTS, HOBBIES ETC. IS A MUST IN THE UNIVERSITIES.
17.4 PUBLIC RELATIONS It is important for every University to have activities in the area of public relations as well for building and maintaining good public image.
The University equally is concerned with its relations with various government agencies, local bodies and private commercial organisations, etc. It must also interact effectively with the elites of the society and social service organisations. Press being an important agency, is another target group with which a University must maintain good relations. Internally, the University should also make conscious efforts to ensure cordial relations with its own affiliated colleges, teachers, students and non-teaching staff. At the same time, the University's relationship with central bodies like the UGC and members sitting on the statutory bodies like Senate has also to be supportive and purposeful.
Many of the Universities are already conscious of this purpose and are maintaining activities like organising press meets, issuing regular bulletins (even newspapers), hand-outs, publication of service regulations and organising seminars for the purpose of creating public awareness. Nevertheless, there are many areas such as publishing subject-wise bulletins, representation in social service organisations, responding to public views seen in the Press, specific grievances handling machinery, participation in mass media units like TV, Radio, etc., releasing Press advertisements on new schemes, press advertisements for creating public awareness on special issues, announcement of university appointments etc., are not. adequately taken care of. There are simple routine activities like responding to public enquiries, conduct of several students meets, and responding to invitations from the outside organisations which are also to be attended to in order to improve public relations.
Many universities have a Public Relations Officer, normally, in the grade of Assistant Registrar who is mainly responsible for reception of the guests of the Universities and extend hospitality to them. In our opinion, the present public relations' functions of the Universities are meagre and they need to be strengthened considerably as it will bridge the gap between the University and the Community, both internally and externally and would also help the University in accelerating the process of achieving
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its objectives. WE ARE OF THE VIEW THAT WHILE THERE MAY BE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICERS IN EVERY UNIVERSITY, THEIR STATUS MAY VARY FROM UNIVERSITY TO UNIVERSITY DEPENDING UPON THE SIZE AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY. In addition, there should be a Committee consisting of one of the Senior Deans nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, 2- 3 Professors, 2-3 Public men including journalists, a few students to periodically meet for planning, implementing, monitoring, reviewing and to take follow- up measures in respect of the public relations role of the University.
17.5 STRIKES AND CODE OF CONDUCT Another phenomenon which hampers functionings of the Universities is frequency of strikes by employees of the universities, both the teachers and the non-teachers alike. They cause strikes at short notice or without any notice at all. A strike by any section of the university brings the life of the entire university to a dead-halt.
One measure which might at first sight appear to be a penacea for strikes, is a legislative ban on strikes in educational institutions. The experience in other fields teaches us that instead of adopting such a legal measure, it may be advisable to think of removing as far as possible the factors which lead to strikes. As everyone familiar with the educational institutions knows, even the legitimate grievances of the employees and teachers are not promptly redressed in all the institutions. Even when there are no feelings of ill- will or malice, the redressal of grievances is delayed, if not made impossible, due to red-tapism and inefficiency of the administration. The first step should, therefore, be to devise a machinery for grievance redressal in every institution. Such arrangements do exist in some institutions but these are hardly adequate. We have dealt with this issue in Chapter 12.
There is no doubt that Consultative Committee and Arbitration Boards would substantially cut down the incidence of strikes, however, the strikes cannot perhaps be totally eliminated. We recommend that:
[1] STRIKES SHOULD BE REGULATED BY LAW. Any recourse to strikes should be made illegal, if made without first resorting to Statutory grievances redressal remedy and without giving adequate notice, say, of at least four to six weeks.
[2] CERTAIN FORMS OF AGITATION SHOULD BE BANNED such as Gherao, camping inside the boundaries of houses of teachers or officers, use of derogatory slogans, abuses
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and propaganda to incite hatred and violence, preparation for and resort to violence or destruction of property.
[3] A CODE OF ETHICS FOR TEACHERS, A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE NON-TEACHING EMPLOYEES AND A CODE OF DISCIPLINE FOR THE STUDENTS MUST BE SET OUT Procedures be also set up to ensure that each section of the university community, teachers, non-teaching staff and students have full knowledge of these codes.
17.6 ACADEMIC STAFF Group "A" Officers working in Instrumentation Centre,[USIC], Computer Centres, Museums, Libraries, Para-Medical Staff, Editors of Publications and Directors of Adult and Continuing Education etc. should be treated as Academic Staff [Non-vacation]. They should have pay- scales etc. at par with those of University teachers and whenever any benefits are given to teachers they should automatically get them from the same date as those of teachers. Such staff should however, have different work load/working hours as compared to those of teachers. It is also important that the posts for these activities are created on the permanent basis and not temporary of a long-time nature as it is at present. The newer demands from the Universities call for permanancy of these posts.
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