Chandigarh: Reeling under faculty shortage, PEC advertises 34 posts of prof

Radhika Pasrija

Chandigarh, January 29

With 40 of the total 162 sanctioned posts lying vacant, the Punjab Engineering College (PEC) is reeling under a shortage faculty members and a not-so-good teacher-pupil ratio. To fill up the vacant posts, PEC authorities have advertised 34 positions for recruitment. Of the remaining six, three have been reserved for the UT accounts functionaries while system analysts and administrators occupy the other three posts. “As we receive grant from the UT Administration, these posts also function on their payroll,” said PEC Director Prof Baldev Setia.

He added that at present, against the 24 sanctioned positions of professor, 44 professors are part of the teaching faculty. Most of them, who underwent internal promotions, have exceeded the age of 60 years and are nearing retirement.

For the strength of 3,200 students, there are not more than 200 teachers, while the desired strength of faculty based on prevailing norms must be 312.

The teacher pupil ratio in engineering branches here ranges between 1:20 and 1:25. While 1:15 is considered to be the ideal ratio, the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are bound to maintain the 1:12 ratio. Prof Setia said, “Last year, we received a grant of Rs 72 crore while the overall spending in the previous session was Rs 108 crore. The balance is then taken care of by internal revenue generators, including fees and sponsored projects.”

The college has now called for applications to hire 12 professors, 12 associate professors and 10 assistant professors.

40 of 162 sanctioned posts vacant

• Of 162 sanctioned posts, 40 lying vacant
• Against desired faculty strength of 312, not more than 200 teachers
• Teacher-pupil ratio not less than 1:20 while NITs maintain 1:12 figure