Nearly half of govt colleges without principals; 56% teaching posts vacant

Nearly half of Haryana’s government colleges are functioning without principals, exposing a deepening administrative and academic crisis at a time when higher education institutions are expected to transition to the New Education Policy (NEP).

Government colleges (185 )

Category Vacant Total (%) Vacancy

Principals 85 185 46%

Regular teaching posts 4,618 7,986 57%

Government-aided colleges (97)

Category Vacant Total % Vacancy

Principals 56 97 57%

Regular Teaching Posts 1,437 2,831 50%

Data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act reveals that 85 of the state’s 185 government colleges — about 46% — do not have a regular principal. Compounding the problem, 56% of the sanctioned posts for regular teachers are lying vacant, leaving colleges heavily dependent on guest and extension faculty.

The situation is no better in government-aided colleges. Of the 97 sanctioned principal posts, 56 (57%) remain unfilled. Nearly 50% of the teaching positions are also vacant, with only 1,394 regular teachers in place against the sanctioned 2,831.

Subhash, state convener of the Haryana Soochna Adhikar Manch, who sourced the data through RTI, said the vacancies have severely affected student enrolment. “Nearly 40% of the seats remained vacant in the colleges this academic season,” he said, adding that the shortage of principals has created a “gaping administrative vacuum”.

District-wise figures show Mahendragarh as the worst-hit, with 14 colleges lacking principals, followed by Bhiwani and Rewari with eight each. Jhajjar and Fatehabad have seven colleges each operating without heads.

'The Tribune' in its earlier reports has also highlighted the state of affairs of the state-run universities and the government schools which exposed the crumbling infrastructure and shrinking number of students.

Information Subhash obtained earlier this year also revealed that while Haryana has 7,986 sanctioned teaching posts, only 3,368 regular faculty members are in place. “Though the administration has hired extension lecturers and guest teachers on contract, it is just a stop-gap arrangement,” he said.

The crisis in teaching posts mirrors the trends seen in principal vacancies. Mahendragarh again tops the list of districts with acute shortages, with about 500 teaching posts vacant across 15 government colleges. Other districts are similarly affected — Hisar (279 vacancies), Faridabad (242), Gurugram (228), Ambala (103), Jind (169), Karnal (145), Rohtak (170), Sirsa (167), Sonepat (109), Fatehabad (143), Panchkula (100) and Bhiwani (214 across 11 colleges).

The scenario is equally grim in aided colleges, where the hiring process has moved painfully slowly despite the state lifting restrictions on regular appointments. Dayanand Malik, president of the Haryana Aided-Colleges Teachers Association, said, “The students have been suffering on account of the prevailing scenario when the government is pushing for the implementation of the NEP and the students require better academic and training in the emerging competitive atmosphere.”

Prof Rajesh Ranjha, president of the Haryana Government College Teachers Association, acknowledged that the government has started the recruitment process. “We also met the Director General of Higher Education regarding the filling of principal posts, which are to be filled through direct recruitment and promotion in a fixed ratio,” he said.

Subhash, however, believes the crisis is systemic. “Under the garb of the New Education Policy, the government is promoting privatisation and weakening the higher education system,” he alleged.