Hyderabad: The joint action committee (JAC) of JNTU has expressed strong concerns over the government’s proposal to raise the retirement age of university professors from 60 to 65 years.
“The proposed increase would only benefit around 1,000 professors,” Dr Botla Bikshapathi, chairman of JNTUH JAC said in a statement on Tuesday, “but it would worsen the unemployment crisis and hinder the development of quality higher education.”
Instead, the committee suggested that the funds to be used to finance the extended tenure of senior professors could be better utilised by hiring 4,000 qualified, unemployed youth as assistant professors. This approach, they believe, would not only create much-needed employment opportunities but also enhance the quality of education.
The committee stated that many senior professors, nearing the end of their careers, often transition into administrative roles, leaving teaching and research behind. “State universities are grappling with insufficient resources and a decline in academic standards,” explained Ambati Teja, JAC vice-chairman. “This focus on administration rather than academics is detrimental to both students and the future of higher education.”
Additionally, the JAC has called for the immediate recruitment of permanent professors to address faculty shortage and rising unemployment among graduates.
“If the government proceeds with this proposal without addressing the immediate concerns of recruitment and employment, the situation will only escalate,” the committee said in their appeal to the Chief Minister.
