BGSBU crisis hurting students in border areas: Dr. Shazad
Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu, DD, The Jammu and Kashmir Border Area Development Conference (JKBADC) has expressed serious concern over the recent media reports about shortage of faculty and other staff at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri.
The media reports, based on an RTI reply, reveal that nearly 60% of teaching posts at the university are lying vacant.
According to the report, out of 235 sanctioned teaching positions, 142 are currently vacant. This includes all 22 posts of Professors, 48 out of 50 Associate Professors, and 72 out of 82 Assistant Professors.
The university is being run largely by a small group of junior teachers, who are already overburdened.
This situation is seriously affecting the quality of education in an institution that serves a remote and underserved region.
Dr. Shazad Ahmed Malik, Chairman of JKBADC and former Vice Chancellor, said the ongoing crisis at BGSBU is extremely worrying for students from border and tribal areas who rely on this university for higher education.
He stressed that BGSBU was established to uplift underdeveloped regions, and failing to support it defeats the purpose of its foundation.
More than 80 non-teaching positions are also vacant, including Principals, Controller of Examination, Medical Officer, and other key technical and support roles. This lack of manpower is seriously affecting the day-to-day functioning of the university.
JKBADC has appealed to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha and Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take immediate and effective steps to fill these vacancies and restore the academic health of the university.
The organisation has also extended its full support, assistance and policy guidance to the university administration.DD