CAS
ARD/AD/RD/DD/JD
Life-End Examination
2009
Course: CAS: CAREER ADVANCEMENT SCHEME FOR ACADEMICS
Duration of Examination: Age upto 62
Maximum Marks: Life Or Death
Weightage: 100%
Note: There is only one question to be answered.
Question 1: Please read the following passage carefully and answer the question given in the end.
TITLE : FACTS ABOUT TEACHERS /ACADEMICS IN IGNOU
OPENING BLIND EYES AND CLOSED MINDS
BOTH THE POSITIONS ARE INSTITUTED UNDER THE SAME SECTIONS OF THE IGNOU ACT.
The posts of Assistant Director (AD)/ Assistant Regional Director (ARD)/ Regional Director(RD) and equivalents have been created under Section 2(p) and Section 5(1)(vi) of IGNOU Act under which the posts of Lecturer, Reader and Professor have been created.
Section 2(p) reads:
“Teachers” means Professors, Readers, Lecturers and such other persons as may be designated as such by the Ordinance for imparting instruction in the University or for giving guidance or rendering assistance to students for pursuing any course of study of the University”
and Section 5 (1) (vi) empowers the University:
“to institute professorships, readerships, lectureships and other academic positions necessary for imparting instruction or for preparing educational material or for conducting other academic activities, including guidance, designing and delivery of course and evaluation of the work done by the students, and to appoint persons to such professorships, readerships, lectureship and other academic positions.”
BOTH ARE ASSIGNED THE SAME/SIMILAR RESPONSIBILITIES.
To substantiate it further, we may quote, for example, the responsibilities assigned to an academics, for an example to an ARD, through his /her Appointment Letter which are as follows:
“ i) Educational Administration, ii) Student Support Activities, iii) Supervision and Maintenance of study centres, iv) Monitoring activities, v) Staff development activities, vi) Tele-conferencing activities ( Management of virtual class-room at Regional Centre), vii) Survey and Research activities, viii) Course writing ix) Admission and related works and x) Any other responsibility assigned by Regional Director.”
Are not they very much commensurate with the letter and spirit of Sections 2(p) and 5(1) (vi) of IGNOU Act and also the same to those assigned to a Lecturer? The answer is always affirmative.
BOTH ARE APPOINTED UNDER THE SAME/SIMILAR SELECTION PROCEDURES.
The recruitment of Teachers and Other Academics of the Universityis governed by the same Statute which is/are Statute 12 (1) & (2) (i) of the University.
12 (1) says:
“There shall be Selection Committees for making recommendations to the Board of Management for appointments to the post of Professors, Readers, Lecturers and other academic staff and heads of institutions maintained by the University.”
And 12 (2) (i) says:
“Each of the Selection Committees for appointment to the post of Professors, Readers, Lecturers and the academic staff shall consist of the following members, namely:
a) the Vice-Chancellor;
b) Pro-Vice Chancellor associated with the School/Division/Centre nominated by the Vice- Chancellor;
c) a person nominated by the Visitor;
d) three experts not in the service of the University to be nominated by the Vice-chancellor in such manner as may be specified in the Ordinances; and
e) Director of the School/Division/Centre concerned/Professor of the Discipline nominated by the Vice-Chancellor.”
BOTH ARE REQUIRED TO FULLFILL THE SAME & SIMILAR
QUALIFICATIONS AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT
The qualifications prescribed for appointment of Academics(Assistant Director / Assistant Regional Directors / Deputy Directors/ Regional Directors / Joint Directors / Regional Directors (Sr.Scale)) are the same as that of the Teachers (Lecturers / Readers /Professors). The details of the Qualification for recruitment ofTeachers and Academics are given as below:
1. Lecturer / Assistant Director / Assistant Regional DirectorQuestion 1: Please read the following passage carefully and answer the question given in the end.
TITLE : FACTS ABOUT TEACHERS /ACADEMICS IN IGNOU
OPENING BLIND EYES AND CLOSED MINDS
BOTH THE POSITIONS ARE INSTITUTED UNDER THE SAME SECTIONS OF THE IGNOU ACT.
The posts of Assistant Director (AD)/ Assistant Regional Director (ARD)/ Regional Director(RD) and equivalents have been created under Section 2(p) and Section 5(1)(vi) of IGNOU Act under which the posts of Lecturer, Reader and Professor have been created.
Section 2(p) reads:
“Teachers” means Professors, Readers, Lecturers and such other persons as may be designated as such by the Ordinance for imparting instruction in the University or for giving guidance or rendering assistance to students for pursuing any course of study of the University”
and Section 5 (1) (vi) empowers the University:
“to institute professorships, readerships, lectureships and other academic positions necessary for imparting instruction or for preparing educational material or for conducting other academic activities, including guidance, designing and delivery of course and evaluation of the work done by the students, and to appoint persons to such professorships, readerships, lectureship and other academic positions.”
BOTH ARE ASSIGNED THE SAME/SIMILAR RESPONSIBILITIES.
To substantiate it further, we may quote, for example, the responsibilities assigned to an academics, for an example to an ARD, through his /her Appointment Letter which are as follows:
“ i) Educational Administration, ii) Student Support Activities, iii) Supervision and Maintenance of study centres, iv) Monitoring activities, v) Staff development activities, vi) Tele-conferencing activities ( Management of virtual class-room at Regional Centre), vii) Survey and Research activities, viii) Course writing ix) Admission and related works and x) Any other responsibility assigned by Regional Director.”
Are not they very much commensurate with the letter and spirit of Sections 2(p) and 5(1) (vi) of IGNOU Act and also the same to those assigned to a Lecturer? The answer is always affirmative.
BOTH ARE APPOINTED UNDER THE SAME/SIMILAR SELECTION PROCEDURES.
The recruitment of Teachers and Other Academics of the Universityis governed by the same Statute which is/are Statute 12 (1) & (2) (i) of the University.
12 (1) says:
“There shall be Selection Committees for making recommendations to the Board of Management for appointments to the post of Professors, Readers, Lecturers and other academic staff and heads of institutions maintained by the University.”
And 12 (2) (i) says:
“Each of the Selection Committees for appointment to the post of Professors, Readers, Lecturers and the academic staff shall consist of the following members, namely:
a) the Vice-Chancellor;
b) Pro-Vice Chancellor associated with the School/Division/Centre nominated by the Vice- Chancellor;
c) a person nominated by the Visitor;
d) three experts not in the service of the University to be nominated by the Vice-chancellor in such manner as may be specified in the Ordinances; and
e) Director of the School/Division/Centre concerned/Professor of the Discipline nominated by the Vice-Chancellor.”
BOTH ARE REQUIRED TO FULLFILL THE SAME & SIMILAR
QUALIFICATIONS AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT
The qualifications prescribed for appointment of Academics(Assistant Director / Assistant Regional Directors / Deputy Directors/ Regional Directors / Joint Directors / Regional Directors (Sr.Scale)) are the same as that of the Teachers (Lecturers / Readers /Professors). The details of the Qualification for recruitment ofTeachers and Academics are given as below:
(Rs.8000 – 275 – 13500)
Good academic record with at least 55% marks or an equalant grade of B in the 7 point scale with letter grades O, A, B, C, D, E and F at the Master degree level in the relevant subject from an Indian University, or an equalant degree from a foreign University.
Besides fulfilling the above qualifications, candidates should have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) for Lecturers conducted by the UGC / CSIR, however, the candidates having the Ph D Degree in the concerned subject are exempted from NET.
2. Reader / Regional Director / Deputy Director
(Rs.12000 – 420 – 18300)
Good academic record with doctoral degree or equivalent published work (in the relevant field). In addition to this, candidates who join from the outside the University system, shall also posses 55% of marks or an equivalent grade of B in the 7 point scale with letter grades O, A, B, C, D, E, and F at the Master’s Degree level in the relevant subject. Five years of teaching and / or research excluding the period spent for obtaining the research degree and has made some mark in the areas of scholarship as evidenced by quality of publications, contribution to educational innovation, design of courses and curricula.
3. Joint Director (Rs.16400 – 450 – 20900)
A. Good academic record with a doctoral degree or equalant published work.
B. At least 10 years experience in teaching and / or educational administration at a senior supervisory level, educational planning and management or formulation and implementation of educational development programmes, including at least 05 years experience in the distance education system in management, monitoring and evaluation of student support services and conduct of staff development programmes.
4. Professor / Regional Director (Sr. Scale) (Rs.16400 – 450 – 20900 – 500 – 22400)
Professor
An eminent scholar with published work of high quality actively engaged in research with 10 years of experience in post graduate teaching and / or experience in research in at the University / National Level Institutions, including experience of guiding research at doctoral level in the relevant field. OR
An outstanding scholar with established reputation who has made the significant contribution to knowledge (in the relevant subject)
Regional Director (Senior Scale)
* A. Good academic record with a doctoral degree or equalant published work.
B. At least 10 years experience in teaching and / or educational administration at a senior supervisory level, educational planning and management or formulation and implementation of educational development programmes, including at least 05 years experience in the distance education system in management, monitoring and evaluation of student support services and conduct of staff development programmes.
BOTH ARE GUIDED BY THE SAME STATUTE FOR SERVICE
CONDITIONS AND CODE OF CONDUCTS.
Even the caption of Statute 17 reads; “Terms and conditions of service and code of conduct of the teachers and other academic staff of the University”. If we read this Statute in the light of Section 2(p) and 5(1)(vi) of IGNOU Act, the use of the word “teacher” under this Statute should be treated synonymous to “other academic staff” for all the contents under this Statute. Please note that under the IGNOU Act, this is the only Statute which provides for the service conditions of the academics including Lecturer, Reader and Professors in the University.
BOTH SHARE THE SAME HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Historically speaking , the posts of the Lecturers/Readers and those of many Academics including Assistant Directors/Assistant Regional Directors and Regional Directors were same, similar and inter-changeable. Even at some point of time, an advertisement used to be issued for appointment of Lecturer, a selection committee used to be constituted for Lecturer , the said selection committee used to interview candidates for Lecturer but appointment letters were used to be issued both for Lecturer and ARD. Even at the time of redesignating the Lecturers as ARDS, it was not made known to the concerned Lecturers that their service conditions were to be governed by another set of R & P Rules. Seeking options from the Lecturer to opt to be designated as ARD or Lecturer was in itself a proof of their being equal in all terms. Please note that cutting an apple does not change the physical properties and chemistry its pieces.
THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL, BEING AN APEX BODY IN THIS
REGARD, CONSIDERS BOTH AS ‘TEACHERS’.
Keeping the recommendations of the various committees appointed by the University in the past, a proposal to consider an Ordinance on designating certain positions in the University as teachers was placed before the Academic Council at its 40th Meeting held on 17-5-2007. The Council after a detailed discussions AGREED AND RECOMMENDED that certain positions other than professors, readers, lecturers and those engaged in guidance or rendering assistance to students for pursuing a course of study in the University including designing, delivery of courses, evaluation of the students performances should be designated as teachers as the activities of such academics falls in the preview of the term ‘teachers’ as defined under Sections 2 and 5 of IGNOU Act. The Academic Council therefore, recommended that the Ordinance on designating a person holding certain positions as teachers under Section 2(p) of IGNOU Act be approved by the BOM. The Academic Council has further suggested that in future, positions with nature of duties, such as, giving guidance or rendering assistance to students in pursuit of their study in the University including the activities related to designing, delivery of programmes, evaluation of the student performance, etc. may also be considered for inclusion in the category of teachers.
THE BOM HAS PASSED THE RESOLUTION LIKE SO.
The BOM at its 90th Meeting held on 22nd May 2007 noted the provisions under the IGNOU Act under Section 2(p) and Section 5(1) and the recommendations of the Academic Council, and approved the draft Ordinance on designating certain positions in the University as teachers under the provisions of Statute 26.
Here we would like to submit that as per Statute 26 (3) “Every Ordinance made by the Board of Management shall come into effect immediately. Further as per Statute 26 (4) “All Ordinances made by the Board of Management shall be submitted to the Visitor within three weeks from the date of its adoption. The Visitor may, within four weeks of the receipt of any Ordinance, inform the University about his objection, if any, to that Ordinance, and direct that its operation shall remain suspended until he has had an opportunity of exercising his power of disallowance. The Visitor may, after receiving the comments of the University, either withdraw his order of suspension or disallow the Ordinance, and his decision shall be final.”
If we read Statute 26(4) with 26(3), Ordinances passed in this regard should have come in to effect immediately and it is only after adoption by the University that the same should have been sent by the University within three weeks from the date of adoption to the Visitor who should exercise of his/her ultimate power within mandated time frame of four weeks. Even after the lapse of the mandated time frame of four weeks as provided by the Statute 26(4), it is not being invoked. How long can we wait for the same? A number of our colleagues have retired without their promotion from due date and a number are on the verge of retirement. Young academics like us are reeling under shadow of their dark future.
PEDAGOGY IN ODL IS DIFFERENT
It my be summed up that the provisions under the Act assume that teaching in an open university is different from that of a conventional university, that the pedagogy in a ODL institution compasses to the activities such as delivery of content and services to the evaluation of the students performances, development of the systems and programme planning, preparation and production of study material both in print and audio video forms. Keeping this in view and provisions under Sections 2 and 5 of the IGNOU Act, the University has made no distinction in the selection procedures for the teacher and academics. The above view has been further corroborated by several committees appointed by the University in the past. The Takwale Committee, appointed in 1992 has given a very clear and categorical opinion that IGNOU Act permits inclusion of all categories of persons participating in the process of guiding and assistance to students within the meaning of the term ‘teachers’. In the opinion of the Takwale Committee the role of an academic in the context of distance education system cannot be conceived only in the teaching associated with a class-room but he has to be a distance educator in the first place while also being a subject specialist or an experienced professional. The Takwale Committee, therefore, recommended that this change in the role should be reflected progressively in the qualification, methods of selection and the professional development of the academics in the distance education system.
Please honour the Fundamental Right of Equality guaranteed under Articles 14 and 16(1) of the Constitution of India.
The deadlocks in the way of parity between teachers and academics from the point of view of service conditions can be broken only through four democratic means: a) Representation, b) Demonstration, c) Agitation, and d) Legal Action.
Question (i) Please select one of the following;
(a) Representation
(b) Demonstration
(c) Agitation
(d) Legal Action.
