JUSTA Faults Selection Procedure For Academic Positions On Campus
JUSTA
claims it is troubled by decisions of senior academics holding
administrative responsibilities to overlook candidates with superior
certified academic performances in favour of those with inferior
records.
“The major criterion for selection to an academic post is academic
excellence. This is because University is the highest seat for learning
and its teachers do not teach from text books alone,” JUSTA said in its
appeal.
JUSTA warns that selection on subjective criteria such as interview
and performance easily becomes the means of abuse to favour those with
superior connections and influence at the expense of persons from
humbler backgrounds who have shown superior ability.
“Once this abuse takes root, the character of the University suffers,
as those selected become increasingly beholden to those in authority,”
the appeal said.
The Appeal to the Vice Chancellor has the support of 86 persons of
the Jaffna University, including 69 members of the academic staff.
We publish below the letter in full;
University of Jaffna,
4th December 2013.
To:The Vice Chancellor, Members of the Council and Well–wishers of the University,
Selection to Academic Positions in the University
Selection to academic positions is the task of mainly senior
academics holding administrative responsibilities: the university
community and the public rightly expect that this obligation is
discharged conscientiously. Regrettably, we are more and more troubled
by justifications from these same senior academics for overlooking
candidates with superior certified academic performances, in favour of
those with inferior records. The reasons frequently given – the selected
candidate performed “superbly” in the interview or the candidate’s
presentation was “superb” – point to the selectors trying to cover up
something seriously amiss that troubles them. Current selections will
determine the academic standing of the University, and its intellectual
environment, for many years to come. It is now time to refresh our minds
on the criteria for selection to academic positions.
The major criterion for selection to an academic post is academic
excellence. This is because University is the highest seat for learning
and its teachers do not teach from text books alone. They should
continually update their knowledge and prepare their students
accordingly. They should capture new outcomes in their research fields
and apply them in their own work. A person who had absorbed what was
taught over four years and applied it well in answering questions
regularly set at examinations should be most suitable for the purposes
given.
Hence as the first category for selection to the post of Lecturer
(Probationary), the UGC has specified a First or Second Class (Upper
Division) specialization in the relevant subject. Other categories are
considered only when candidates in the first category are not available.
When selections are made from other categories, the Council must
justify it to the UGC.
UGC circular 935 states that “If the Selection Committee is not
satisfied with the performance of candidate/candidates, but otherwise
well qualified, such candidate/candidates be appointed as Temporary
Lecturer/Lecturers for a period of one year and at the end of such
period of such period they may be appointed as Lecturer (Probationary)
having subjected to another interview and presentation”.
The Circular makes it clear that the certified record is the decisive
criterion for selection. The presentation and interview are only to
ensure that the selected candidate will not be a disaster as a teacher.
It further makes it practically mandatory that the candidate having the
best certified record be appointed in a temporary capacity, when there
is some doubt about his capacity to teach and interviewed a year later.
That makes plain the weight placed on qualification as opposed to
presentation.
A Special Degree candidate has been tested in 120 credits using some
50 end-of-semester question papers (and numerous in-course assessments)
by several tens of examiners. Each answer script has been marked twice
by experienced examiners. The candidate had spent several hundred hours
answering question papers in the examination hall. A first class is
awarded based on this performance. In the selection board only Head of
the Department is, in most cases, an expert in the subject. Is it
that easy for such a board to reject the result obtained in the above
manner and stamp a candidate as being unsuitable on the basis of a few
questions fielded inadequately by the candidate during a brief interview
lasting a few minutes?
To put it in another way: Whom should a board select to an
academic post? A brilliant fresh graduate who did not do well in the
presentation or one with an inferior record with better presentation
skills?
We must further keep in mind that many years of war and migration
have lowered the kind of exposure where students would pick up better
English and present themselves more attractively. Under these
circumstances it is incumbent on us to give students who have worked
hard to overcome some of their handicaps and perform well during their
four years at the University, their due opportunity to rise further.
Selection on subjective criteria such as interview and performance
easily becomes the means of abuse to favour those with superior
connections and influence at the expense of persons from humbler
backgrounds who have shown superior ability.
Once this abuse takes root, the character of the University
suffers, as those selected become increasingly beholden to those in
authority.
01
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Dr.A.Sivarupan | Zoology |
02
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S.Selvarajan | Maths & Stats |
03
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S.Arivalzahan | Maths & Stats |
04
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M.R.R.Hoole | Maths & Stats |
05
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N.Sivapalan | Chemistry |
06
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K.Velauthamurthy | Chemistry |
07
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K.Thabotharan | Computer Science |
08
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G.Rajkumar | Botany |
09
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M.Varathan | Maths & Stats |
10
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A.Laheetharan | Maths & Stats |
11
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K.Kannan | Maths & Stats |
12
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Mrs.N.Satkunanathan | Maths & Stats |
13
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Mr.B.Muraleetharan | Maths & Stats |
14
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M.Khokulan | Maths & Stats |
15
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M.Ananthakirishna | Maths & Stats |
16
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A.Nithlavarnan | Education |
17
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K.Sivarajah | Marketing |
18
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K.L.Ramanan | ELTC |
19
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J.Thevananth | Financial Mgt |
20
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S.Anandasangari | Financial Mgt |
21
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S.K.Kannathas | ELTC |
22
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Ms.S.Srisatkunarajah | Linguistics and English |
23
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Mr.N.Pratheeparajah | Geography |
24
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Mr.S.Raveenthiran | Geography |
25
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Mr.P.Akilan | Fine Arts |
26
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Prof.K.Thevarajah | Commerce |
27
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Dr.T.Manoranjan | Chemistry |
28
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Mr.S.Ketheeswaran | Library |
29
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N.Sivakaran | Philosophy |
30
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S.Sivakanthan | Sociology |
31
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R.Rajeshkannan | Sociology |
32
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S.Rajeswaran | Geography |
33
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A.S.Sosai | Geography |
34
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E. Ratnam | Marketing |
35
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T.Karunakaran | ELTC |
36
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Miss.S.Sithamparanathan | Physical Education Unit |
37
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G.D.Mathiyalagan | Physical Education Unit |
38
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Ms.E.Arulmpalam | Physical Education Unit |
39
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Ms.S.Shasiharan | Physical Education Unit |
40
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Dr.C.C.A.Sivapalan | Linguistics & English |
41
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Ms.S.Sivamoorthy | Linguistics & English |
42
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Mr.S.Wimal | Linguistics & English |
43
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Dr.V.Suntharesan | ELTC |
44
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Dr.M.Saravanapavan | ELTC |
45
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Dr.T.Sanathanan | Fine Arts |
46
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D.Arthe | ELTC |
47
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Mrs.J.Rasanayagam | Education |
48
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Mrs.V.Ravishankar | Economics |
49
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Mrs.P.Muraleetharan | Accounting |
50
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Ms.P.Sivapalan | Accounting |
51
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Ms.T.Kanagalingam | Accounting |
52
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Mr.J.Aloy Niresh | Accounting |
53
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Mr.S.Gobinaath | Mathematics & Statistics |
54
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Mrs.K.Hoole | Library |
55
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Ms.S.Arulanantham | Library |
56
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Dr.T.Kalamany | Education |
57
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Prof.M.Sinnathamby | Education |
58
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Prof.K.Sivananthamoorthy | Philosophy |
59
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Mrs.S.Krishnakumar | History |
60
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Mr.T.Arunakirinathan | ELTC |
61
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Dr.K.Arunthavarajah | History |
62
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N.Ravimannan | Botany |
63
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N.Sabananthar | Botany |
64
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C.Arunagirinathan | Botany |
65
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A.W.Jeevanarajah | Botany |
66
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Kothai Seker | Botany |
67
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T.Poojithreyi | Botany |
68
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P.Auvai | Botany |
69
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S.Subaragini | Botany |
70
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S.Navaneethan | Botany |
71
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A.Revathie | Botany |
72
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P.T.J.Jashothan | Botany |
73
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R.Selvarthnam | Botany |
74
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B.Ragulan | Botany |
75
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S.Ida | Botany |
76
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S.Dalini | Botany |
77
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J.Nandakumar | Botany |
78
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A.C.Thavaranjit | Botany |
79
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Mrs.M.Visakarooban | Library |
80
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A. Ramanan | Computer Science |
81
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J.P.Jeyadevan | Chemistry |
82
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Dr.G. Sashikesh | Chemistry |
83
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Dr.(Mrs).J.Prabagar | Chemistry |
84
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Dr.P.Iyngaran | Chemistry |
85
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Mrs.R.Senthooran | Chemistry |
86
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Dr.P.Abiman | Chemistry |
