Teacher trouble: HRD ropes in CSIR

Concerned about the increasing faculty shortage and the diminished demand for the teaching profession among youngsters,the Round Table on Higher Education — constituted by the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry —has decided to create a national corps of outstanding fellows and rope in the CSIR to help promote research in higher education institutions.

While higher pay packets for teachers after the Sixth Pay Commission are a key incentive already in place,the Round Table members felt more needed to be done to make the teaching profession attractive. A committee,which has HRD Ministry Additional Secretary Sunil Kumar,CSIR DG S Brahamachari and consultant Sunil Maheshwari on board among others,will be looking into the issue.

A National Corps of Outstanding Fellows would be created to give incentives to those excelling in the teaching profession. Besides goodies like free train tickets among other things,the Round Table members also suggested that a media campaign should be started to position teaching as a worthwhile career choice. More autonomy to universities is also being considered,according to sources.

In order to encourage research,the CSIR DG proposed that their scientists could work with varsities to that end. The HRD Ministry also gave an assurance that the proposal would be taken up soon.