Over 950 Scholars and Educators Protest Draft Recruitment Rules for Assam College Employees
In a significant move, over 950 research scholars, students, and educators from across Assam have signed an open letter to the state’s Education Minister, Dr. Ranoj Pegu, expressing strong opposition to the draft Assam College Employees (Provincialisation) Rules, 2024. The letter, initially drafted by a group of research scholars from North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong, has sparked a widespread debate within the academic community.
The open letter, which quickly gathered support from a diverse group of academics, including research scholars, assistant professors, postgraduate students, and senior educators, raises concerns over what they perceive as discriminatory provisions in the draft recruitment guidelines. One of the primary points of contention is the recruitment test’s emphasis on general aptitude and current affairs, which the signatories argue prioritizes administrative skills over domain-specific knowledge. The proposed rules allocate only five marks to domain knowledge, a move that critics claim undermines the importance of academic expertise, years of research, and teaching experience.
Prominent figures in the academic world, including renowned social scientist Dr. Hiren Gohain, as well as several esteemed educators such as Dr. Indranee Dutta, Dr. Manorama Sharma, and Dr. Apurba Baruah, have lent their support to the open letter. The letter also received endorsements from former CSIR-NEIST scientists Dr. Pinaki Sengupta and Nirmal Ch. Gogoi, and retired educational leaders like Gunadhar Gogoi, former Principal of GNDG Commerce College, and Abdus Salam, former Vice Principal of Dhing College.
The signatories have called for the immediate withdrawal or revision of the draft rules, urging the government to ensure that the recruitment process aligns with University Grants Commission (UGC) standards. They advocate for the inclusion of weightage for domain knowledge, academic achievements, research work, and teaching experience in the recruitment criteria. Additionally, they demand public consultations before finalizing the guidelines, arguing that the current proposal does not reflect the expertise and dedication necessary for the academic profession.
The issue has sparked a broader conversation about the future of higher education recruitment in Assam. Critics of the draft rules argue that they fail to adequately account for the essential qualities required of educators and researchers, and they worry that the changes could undermine the quality of higher education in the state.
