While the Delhi University (DU) has increased the seats in its colleges by 7,000, taking the total to 49,000, the University Grants Commission's new guidelines on making National Eligibility Test (NET) mandatory for college teachers may result in a `faculty crisis' in DU. According to the All India University Researchers' Association officials, DU's over 700 ad hoc teachers and guest faculty will face the axe because of UGC's new provision and there won't be enough teachers to conduct the classes, which begin from July 16. Prior to the guidelines, MPhil or a PhD degree holders were exempted from NET and could teach in colleges.
With the new rule in place, only those with a PhD have been exempted, that too in `special cases'. Also, the new guidelines would even apply to those who have completed their research and are already teaching on temporary basis. Speaking about the crisis, vice chancellor of DU, Deepak Pental, said, 'This sudden change making NET mandatory would definitely pose some problems, but the university would plan accordingly before the start of the session. The teachers might have to take a few extra classes for a short period.'
