Around 33 serving officers from the three services,currently posted at the National Defence Academy (NDA),Khadakwasla,are doing what is normally to be done by civilians. As teaching staff at the academy,its a chance to take it easy for a while,but once regular faculty is hired,these officers will have to go back to being soldiers. According to Vice Admiral R K Dhowan,commandant,NDA,the shortage of academicians at the NDA has been successfully addressed by roping in these officers to assist the civilian staff. We intend to take further corrective measures and hire more people to completely tide over the shortfall in collaboration with the UPSC and the Ministry of Defence. At present,we have adequate staff, he said on the sidelines of a press meet on Tuesday to announce the passing out parade of the 116 th course of the NDA on May 31. M Roy,principal,NDA,said,Approximately 33 serving officers are currently posted at the NDA,thus filling up civilian vacancies. Around 12 of these are additional serving officers. They are all postgraduates in various disciplines,from the education branches of the tri-services. As soon as we hire regular faculty,these officers can opt for other postings. There are more vacancies at the NDA but getting qualified faculty is a time-consuming process. One professor,one lecturer and two readers were recruited around a month back,he said. However,as far as computer education is concerned,the NDA authorities are still outsourcing staff to tide over the shortage of skilled teaching personnel. Some officers have been assigned to help out with computer education,as it is difficult to attract regular faculty for these posts,considering the opportunities elsewhere, said Roy. To mentor and mould young cadets is a refreshing change as well as a new challenge to many of the officers-turned-instructors. We aid the civilian teachers in teaching subjects such as economics and political science,apart from languages, said one of the 33 officers,who particularly wanted to be posted at the NDA.
