Advantages, age must determine the qualifications of teachers, regardless of their social category

The report prepared by the High Commission will be approved at the Executive Council meeting, scheduled to be held on 23 May. Image source: File Photo

The University of Delhi (DU) proposes the implementation of a unified policy to determine the qualifications of teachers to address concerns about promotion policies.

The proposal places the ranking or advantages of faculty members at their age, whether they fall into the general category or not, other backward classes (OBC), planned caste (SCS), or planned tribes (STS), whose age is most important.

It will be approved at the upcoming Executive Council meeting of the Executive Committee (the university’s highest decision-making body) on May 23.

“The lack of a standardized framework for determining qualifications, especially in terms of promotion, when nominating top faculty and staff from academic committees and statutory bodies, the university formed a senior committee in July 2024 to study the issue and recommend consistent policies,” said a senior official.

The group is chaired by the University’s Dean and includes presidents of large universities, members of executive and academic committees, and representatives from the SC, ST and OBC communities.

The official added that the committee held a total of five internal meetings in a year before submitting the detailed proposal.

The official also said that since the current booking policy applies only to recruitment and not to promotion, the committee’s recommendations (if accepted) will not affect the existing retention policy.

“Consistent policies are needed”

“After considering all aspects, the Commission believes that if the relative merit is equal, the teacher qualifications for all purposes can be determined based on age/date of birth,” the report said.

It added that the process will continue until all rankings run out.

The senior group details the need to develop a consistent policy, “what approach will be taken while determining the teacher qualifications of any respective college department, and there are a lot of concerns/accusations and ambiguity while determining the teacher qualifications of their respective academic qualifications.”