Editor,
I would like to draw attention to an important issue affecting the quality of higher education in Arunachal Pradesh, namely the increasing dependence on guest faculty members and temporary arrangements in universities, colleges, and technical institutions.
Due to delays in regular recruitment, many institutions are compelled to engage guest faculty members for long periods. While this may help in managing classes temporarily, excessive dependence on such arrangements can affect academic stability, continuity, and overall quality of education.
Higher education, especially at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, requires experienced and qualified teachers who can guide students not only in syllabus completion but also in developing proper academic understanding. This situation appears to be more noticeable in some institutions, including the state university and certain private universities across the state, where reliance on temporary or guest faculty arrangements seems to continue for long durations.
It is important that minimum academic standards are maintained while engaging faculty members, even on temporary or guest basis. For teaching at the undergraduate level, the minimum qualification should ideally be a postgraduate degree in the relevant subject along with NET or SLET qualification, and preferably some teaching experience. Similarly, for postgraduate teaching, preference should be given to candidates with PhD, along with NET or SLET where applicable, and relevant teaching or research experience.
Maintaining such standards will help ensure that students receive proper academic guidance, and that the credibility of the institutions is not compromised.
The intention of raising this concern is not to question the capability of individuals who are currently serving as guest faculty members, but to emphasise the need for a uniform and transparent system that maintains academic quality across all institutions. When recruitment is delayed for years and temporary arrangements continue indefinitely, both students and aspirants are affected. Students may not receive the level of academic exposure expected from higher education, while qualified candidates waiting for regular recruitment lose valuable time.
The state government has taken several positive steps in expanding higher education by establishing new colleges, polytechnics, and engineering institutions. However, expansion must be supported by timely recruitment of regular faculty members and clear guidelines for temporary appointments. Without adequate and qualified teaching staff, the objective of improving higher education cannot be fully achieved.
Therefore, it is hoped that the authorities concerned will review the present system and ensure that guest faculty engagement follows minimum academic standards, and that regular recruitment is conducted in a timely manner, so that institutions can function with stability, discipline, and academic credibility.
Higher education plays a crucial role in the future of the youths of Arunachal, and maintaining proper teaching standards today will determine the strength of our institutions in the years to come.
A concerned
academician