Dr Tanveer Ahmed
Academic arrangements, initially conceived as a temporary measure to address faculty shortages in Jammu and Kashmir’s higher education system, have now become a long-standing institutional practice. While these educators sustain academic functioning across colleges, the systemic challenges embedded in this framework demand immediate government intervention. Ensuring dignity, stability, and fair treatment for academic arrangement faculty is not just an administrative necessity but a moral responsibility and a prerequisite for improving educational outcomes in the region.
1. Inadequate Remuneration And Financial Distress
With monthly remuneration often restricted to ₹28,000, academic arrangement faculty face financial hardships that do not reflect their qualifications or professional responsibilities. This compensation level stands far below national standards and fails to meet the rising cost of living. A substantial, government-led revision of the pay structure is urgently needed to restore fairness and ensure dignified living conditions for educators.
2. Denial Of Proper Nomenclature And Professional Recognition
Despite fulfilling all academic and administrative duties akin to permanent faculty, contractual teachers are denied the title of Assistant Professor. This not only affects their professional identity but also limits their academic growth and recognition at regional and national platforms. Granting appropriate nomenclature is essential to uphold academic dignity and bring parity within institutions.
3. Lack Of Job Security And Contractual Vulnerability
Annual renewal of contracts creates a climate of uncertainty that discourages long-term academic engagement. Students suffer from frequent faculty turnover, and institutions struggle to maintain continuity in teaching and mentorship. A structured, multi-year engagement policy would ensure stability, improve academic performance, and reduce attrition.
4. Restricted Access To Research And Professional Development
Many contractual educators lack access to research funding, conferences, workshops, and faculty development programs. This limits innovation and professional growth, leading to stagnation within the academic community. Equal access to research grants, training programs, and academic development initiatives is crucial for empowering faculty and advancing the region’s intellectual climate.
5. Inequitable Workload And Resource Constraints
Due to chronic staff shortages, academic arrangement faculty often carry heavier workloads without corresponding benefits or institutional support. This exploitation undermines teaching quality and affects overall academic morale. A transparent and equitable workload distribution mechanism must be implemented to ensure fairness.
6. Psychological And Emotional Stress
Persistent uncertainty, low pay, and lack of recognition create emotional strain and demoralisation among educators. A demotivated teaching community inevitably impacts students’ learning experiences. Government-supported welfare measures are necessary to protect the mental well-being of faculty and foster a healthier academic environment.
7. Accelerated Brain Drain
The ongoing challenges drive many talented educators to seek better opportunities outside J&K, resulting in the loss of valuable human capital. Addressing these systemic issues is essential for retaining talent and strengthening the region’s higher education system.
A Respectful Appeal To The Government
For higher education in Jammu and Kashmir to become a driver of economic growth, innovation, and social stability, immediate reforms in academic arrangements are essential. Improved remuneration, dignified nomenclature, job security, and enhanced research opportunities must form the core of the government’s educational reforms.
A motivated and respected teaching community is the foundation of any thriving education system. By prioritising the well-being and professional dignity of academic arrangement faculty, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir can lay the groundwork for stronger institutions, better learning outcomes, improved research productivity, and a more resilient and equitable higher education ecosystem.
This reform is not just in the interest of educators—it is an investment in the future of Jammu & Kashmir.
The writer is a Lecturer, Economics, Government Degree College Pouni
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