Professors missing in universities!

50 to 90 per cent posts vacant in each university

metro india news  I hyderabad

Telangana’s higher education system is facing a deepening crisis as faculty recruitment in state universities remains stalled, crippling teaching and research. Vacancies range from 50% to 90% across the 11 universities, forcing institutions to depend on contract, part-time, academic consultant and guest faculty.

Universities have not undertaken regular recruitment for nearly 10–12 years, including since Telangana’s formation. Though the government issued a GO last April permitting appointments, the recruitment process remains unclear, with no decision on whether universities or a special board should conduct it.

Teacher and student organisations have criticised the government for neglecting higher education and delaying appointments. The shortage of permanent faculty is affecting academic quality, research and institutional development.

The crisis is also reflected in declining NIRF rankings and NAAC performance, while Telangana’s universities have little or no presence in global rankings. Stakeholders warn that unless recruitment begins immediately, the state’s higher education institutions will continue to lose academic standing.

Massive vacancies across institutions

In each university, 50 to 90 per cent of professor posts remain vacant. The future of thousands of students has been left to the winds. In Osmania University, out of 1,267 posts, 936 (74 percent) are vacant. In Basara RGUKT, out of 146 posts, 127 (86 percent) are empty. Kakatiya University has 332 vacancies out of 439 posts (75 percent). Satavahana University has 47 vacancies out of 63 posts (74 percent). JNTU has 266 vacancies out of 410 posts (65 percent). Telugu University has 64 vacancies out of 77 posts (83 percent). 

Mahatma Gandhi University has 35 vacancies out of 70 posts (50 percent). BR Ambedkar Open University has 69 vacancies out of 93 posts (74 percent).

Telangana University has 91 vacancies out of 152 posts (59 percent). Palamuru University has 117 vacancies out of 136 posts (86 percent). Jawaharlal Nehru Fine Arts University has 41 vacancies out of 55 posts (74 percent). In some departments of the universities, there is not even a Head of the Department. Due to the lack of adequate professors, new courses cannot be introduced.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has repeatedly described spending on education as an investment in the future. However, the prolonged delay in filling university faculty vacancies is hampering teaching, research and innovation. The shortage of professors has reduced research papers and patents from the state and affected university rankings. The government is reportedly weighing the financial and legal implications of large-scale recruitment. Teacher and student organisations are demanding transparent, time-bound appointments to restore academic standards, strengthen research and improve opportunities for students. Without urgent action, Telangana’s higher education system risks further deterioration.