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Selecting qualified teachers online almost impossible: JU teachers


Published : 11 Jun 2021 09:45 PM | Updated : 12 Jun 2021 05:24 AM

The Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities on Saturday are going to appoint six new teachers at the Philosophy department through online viva voce. Applicants are notified of the online examination process via text message just 4 days before the exam.

About 60 candidates will take part in the online viva voce against six posts.

A fraction of Jahangirnagar University teachers of Philosophy department in a press conference at Jahangirnagar University Press Club (JUPC) office at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of the university on Friday claimed that it is impossible to select qualified teachers through online recruitment process.

They demanded that the recruitment process be stopped. However, considering the 'teaching load', they are in favor of taking a physical viva voce if the situation is normal.

Professor Rayhan Rhyne of the department said, “Since the establishment of the department it is a very important practice that if there is a need to appoint new teachers, it is discussed at the departmental academic council and the opinion of the teachers is taken in this regard.”

The authorities had made the plan violating the practice and there was no need to recruit six more teachers at a time to keep teachers-student ratio at a standard level.

“According to the Jahangirnagar University Act of 1973, which powers its authorities an autonomy only on academic decisions and development of education and research,

the number of teachers currently working in the department and the academic responsibilities of the department is in perfect balance," he added.

Earlier, on Thursday four teachers of the department filed a writ petition challenging the legality of the new recruitment of six teachers amid the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The petitioners are professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan,  ASM Anwarullah Bhuiyan,  Zakir Hossain and assistant professor Abdus Sattar.

While contacted, professor Mostafa Nazmul Mansur, chairman of the Philosophy department told that, “There was no violation of any procedure in the recruitment process.  Our department is in a dire teacher crisis.  No appointment has been made in the last 10 years.”

“Five teachers have retired and four are on leave.  In this situation, we need new teachers immediately,” professor  Mansur added. Earlier, eight teachers of the philosophy department have lodged a written complaint with the University Grants Commission (UGC) claiming that the actual meritorious applicant will be deprived of showing their expertise before the virtual appointment board. They also demanded that the recruitment process be stopped.