Seven Telangana universities in dire straits with no professors

Out of 390 professor positions sanctioned in 11 universities, only 174 were working as of November 30, 2024

Hyderabad: A startling reality has emerged in the State’s higher education particularly with regards to State-of-academic affairs in the universities. Not one, two or three, seven out of 11 public universities in Telangana have been operating without a single professor.

Kakatiya University, one of the oldest universities in the State, Mahatma Gandhi University, Satavahana University, Palamuru University, Telugu University, Dr BR Ambedkar Open University, and Rajiv Gandhi Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT), Basar, have no regular professors on staff rolls.

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Out of 390 professor positions sanctioned in 11 universities, only 174 worked as of November 30, 2024. Among the working, 147 alone were in the Osmania University. With professors, the universities, which are meant to provide rigorous academic work and research, have been severely compromised.

Worst is the situation of Satavahana University, Telugu University and RGUKT as they do not have associate professors as well. These varsities are just managing the show with regular assistant professors and academic assistants on contract basis.

Another worrisome issue has been that only 27 per cent of the sanctioned strength in 11 universities are present on the rolls. Out of 2,817 sanctioned posts in 11 universities only 757 staff are working, leaving a staggering 2,060 vacant. The vacancies will further go up as several senior professors are in line superannuation this year.

The TGCHE recently constituted a five-member high-level committee headed by Dr BRAOU Vice ChancellorProf Ghanta Chakrapani Prof Ghanta Chakrapani to prepare modalities for the recruitment of teaching staff in the State Universities and their superannuation, in alignment with the UGC regulations, and asked for a report by January 25.