Guwahati, Jun 3 : Dispur has banned post-graduate research degrees acquired through distance courses, closing the doors on hundreds of scholars who find it difficult to carve out time for university on the sidelines of a job.
Education minister Ripun Bora said his department has stopped recognising MPhil and PhD degrees obtained through distance education, as both Gauhati and Dibrugarh universities were not in its favour. “When our own universities are not recognising MPhil and PhDs through this mode, how can we accept it? If a degree is not accepted for academic purposes, how can it be applicable for administrative purpose? Going against them either in matters of academic or appointment will only create more problems for us in future,” he said.The ban operatively means that students with degrees obtained through long-distance courses will not be eligible for post of lecturers in Assam colleges. Besides, the current crop of lecturers who have such degrees cannot claim any benefit/relaxation for promotions and scholarship.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) was moved last week not to give exemption to those who have acquired MPhil/PhDs through distance courses, while applying for a lecturer’s job in colleges.
“The plea was made on the basis of the stand taken by the two universities against such degrees. In fact, colleges have also started turning away those candidates applying for a lecturer’s job with such degrees,” a source said.
Bora, however, he would go by the stand taken by the UGC, which has been asked to clarify its position about such degrees.
“As of now, these degrees are not recognised by us but the UGC will have to take a final call in this regard,” he said when asked how research degrees recognised by the UGC could be ignored.
There are over 2,000 post-graduate students and lecturers who are pursuing such degrees after the UGC last year made either an MPhil or a PhD or clearance of either National Eligibility Test or State-level Eligibility Test mandatory for a lecturer’s job.
Moreover, long-distance courses are the only option available for many since the seats for regular MPhil courses at universities are very limited.
The Guwahati office of the UGC has moved the Delhi headquarters to clear the confusion, since the future of hundreds is hinged on this decision. “A blanket ban on such degrees is surprising because the Centre is using this mode to reach out to those who cannot afford a regular course. Even IITs and IIMs will be offering courses through this mode. You can always contest the quality but not the validity of a degree awarded by a recognised institution,” a UGC source said.
The Distance Education Council has given provisional recognition to 144 institutions in India and that includes Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University in Assam.
A Gauhati University source said it has clarified that its order pertained only to academic issues and in no way connected to administrative issues like jobs. “We can as of now accommodate 150 students in MPhil courses every year offered by 10 departments,” he said, reflecting on the huge gap between demand and supply, which was the root cause of the problem.
Telegraph India
Education minister Ripun Bora said his department has stopped recognising MPhil and PhD degrees obtained through distance education, as both Gauhati and Dibrugarh universities were not in its favour. “When our own universities are not recognising MPhil and PhDs through this mode, how can we accept it? If a degree is not accepted for academic purposes, how can it be applicable for administrative purpose? Going against them either in matters of academic or appointment will only create more problems for us in future,” he said.The ban operatively means that students with degrees obtained through long-distance courses will not be eligible for post of lecturers in Assam colleges. Besides, the current crop of lecturers who have such degrees cannot claim any benefit/relaxation for promotions and scholarship.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) was moved last week not to give exemption to those who have acquired MPhil/PhDs through distance courses, while applying for a lecturer’s job in colleges.
“The plea was made on the basis of the stand taken by the two universities against such degrees. In fact, colleges have also started turning away those candidates applying for a lecturer’s job with such degrees,” a source said.
Bora, however, he would go by the stand taken by the UGC, which has been asked to clarify its position about such degrees.
“As of now, these degrees are not recognised by us but the UGC will have to take a final call in this regard,” he said when asked how research degrees recognised by the UGC could be ignored.
There are over 2,000 post-graduate students and lecturers who are pursuing such degrees after the UGC last year made either an MPhil or a PhD or clearance of either National Eligibility Test or State-level Eligibility Test mandatory for a lecturer’s job.
Moreover, long-distance courses are the only option available for many since the seats for regular MPhil courses at universities are very limited.
The Guwahati office of the UGC has moved the Delhi headquarters to clear the confusion, since the future of hundreds is hinged on this decision. “A blanket ban on such degrees is surprising because the Centre is using this mode to reach out to those who cannot afford a regular course. Even IITs and IIMs will be offering courses through this mode. You can always contest the quality but not the validity of a degree awarded by a recognised institution,” a UGC source said.
The Distance Education Council has given provisional recognition to 144 institutions in India and that includes Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University in Assam.
A Gauhati University source said it has clarified that its order pertained only to academic issues and in no way connected to administrative issues like jobs. “We can as of now accommodate 150 students in MPhil courses every year offered by 10 departments,” he said, reflecting on the huge gap between demand and supply, which was the root cause of the problem.
Telegraph India
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