Teaching aspirants don’t want academic record norms

Kota: Many aspirants for the 918 posts of assistant professors who are to be recruited by Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) have demanded removal of Good Academic Record (GAR) norm. The aspirants have argued that Rajasthan is the only state in the country to have applied GAR norm for recruitment. They added that the applied GAR norms are not even in line with the UGC’s minimum eligibility for assistant professor recruitment.

Good academic record means an average of at least 55% marks in three examinations preceding Masters degree. According to GAR, an aspirant is eligible for the post of assistant professor if he/she has an average of at least 55% marks in three exams before Masters degree along with at least 50% marks in graduation and in one of Secondary/High School, High Secondary/ Senior Secondary examinations.

Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) recently released an official notification for recruitment for 918 vacancies for the post of assistant professor in various subjects in colleges across Rajasthan. The online application process for the vacant posts began on November 9, 2020 and will and conclude on December 8, 2020.

“A large number of aspirants have cleared National Eligibility Test (NET) and finished PhD. Despite this we are out of the eligibility criteria for the post of assistant professors because of the GAR criteria,” said Dr Hem Singh Gour of Jodhpur, who is also the president of Rajasthan Private College Teachers’ Association. ‘

“GAR norms appear illogical as RPSC is already conducting written examination and interview for recruitment, it is illogical to test the aspirant’s eligibility on the basis of his performance in past examinations of class 10th and 12th,” said Pramila Mirdha, another aspirant.

However, convener of Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle in Kota, Anuj Williams, recommended marking scheme implemented by UGC in Bihar, where Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC) invited applicants for 4,638 posts of assistant professor. GAR norms, as per UGC guidelines, were applied only in interview and score of total marks obtained. Government should allow all the students in the exam and implement marking scheme of GAR in line with Bihar, Williams said.

The GAR norms were introduced in 2015-2016 assistant professor recruitment on nearly 1200 posts but GAR norms were challenged in Rajasthan High Court referred the matter to Supreme Court.