Mumbai: The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) in Maharashtra has launched a major initiative to address the severe shortage of faculty in non-government-aided colleges.
The department has issued a circular to all colleges affiliated with government universities, requesting a detailed report on the number of vacant and filled professor positions as of 31st December 2024.
According to a senior official in the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education, steps are on to recruit over 4,000 professors across Maharashtra colleges in the coming months.
This effort comes as the state grapples with many unfilled teaching posts across its higher education institutions, significantly affecting the quality of education.
The vacancies, calculated based on sanctioned posts linked to student enrolment as of 1st October 2017, have prompted the government to reconsider its recruitment process.
While these positions were initially to be filled through a body like the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), the University Grants Commission (UGC) rejected this proposal from Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, allowing universities to handle appointments directly.
Senior officials in the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education have confirmed that the government is prioritising this issue to ensure the smooth functioning of colleges.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil recently indicated a shift in strategy, highlighting the urgency to resolve the long-standing problem.
The lack of adequate faculty has negatively impacted students, with many colleges struggling to maintain academic and administrative standards.
This data collection initiative is being viewed as a crucial preliminary step in addressing the shortage, with officials aiming to streamline recruitment and improve the higher education landscape across Maharashtra.
