Tiruchi arts and science colleges in the region have their fingers crossed as there are strong indications that there will be disappointing demand for the M.Phil program from the next academic year.
Enrollment for the program has been declining over the years in the wake of the University Grants Commission making PhD, NET and SLET minimum qualifications for faculty members in colleges and universities.
Last year the University of Madras had closed the M.Phil program due to disappointing patronage. However, the Ministry of Higher Education directed all universities to continue with the programme.
Colleges introduced the program compulsively. However, according to college heads, it was not financially viable to continue the program.
Though the National Education Policy 2020 envisages abolishing M.Phil, the state government’s insistence on continuing the program was surprising, said a principal of a city college.
“If the government insists, there will be no takers for M.Phil from the next academic year,” he said.
On the other hand, in a few years, colleges will face a severe shortage of teachers with Ph.D./NET/SLET qualifications.
A senior teacher from a government-aided college said, “Against this background, the government can play a role by providing necessary specialist training to postgraduate students for screening tests like NET/SLET.”
Qualifying NET/SLET is a tough proposition for most of the aspirants who have appeared for the exam. This is because, there is no certainty about the scope of the material from which the questions are framed.
In all likelihood, colleges will utilize the services of PG students or part-time PhD scholars to engage the students, by assigning them the position of Teaching Fellow, after receiving an undertaking that they will complete the NET/SLET within a specific time frame , it is learned.