It ignored Telugu in interview for assistant professor posts: YLP

The AP Public Service Commission (APPSC) has violated rules in the conduct of the test for recruitment of ‘Assistant Professors’ at various universities in Andhra Pradesh.

The Commission has also created a crisis in higher education by failing to take the opinions of intellectuals on the issue, alleged former MP Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad.

Candidates, applying for teaching posts at universities in other States, should be able to speak the language of the respective State and also be able to understand it. Preference would be given to those having a degree or diploma in the language of the respective State, Mr. Lakshmi Prasad, who is also Chairman of the Lok Nayak Foundation, told the media here on Saturday.

Expert panels

Mr. Lakshmi Prasad recalled that expert committees had felt in the past that teaching of social sciences, humanities and other subjects in the regional language would produce good results, and their recommendation was adopted by national testing bodies. National testing agencies like the UGC, CBSE, UPSC and SSC were conducting tests in Hindi and English.

The UPSC had not only included Telugu language and literature in the Civil Services Main Examination but was conducting the examination and interview in Telugu language for that subject. Similarly, examinations being conducted in AP like APCET, EAMCET, LAWCET and Ed. CET were all being conducted in Telugu and English.

APPSC was also conducting tests for Village Assistant to Group-I posts in Telugu and English. But, it chose to conduct the test for ‘Assistant Professor’ posts only in English for unknown reasons, the Lok Nayak Foundation Chairman said.

Mr. Lakshmi Prasad felt it was wrong on the part of APPSC to hold a screening test for recruitment of candidates, who had already qualified in national-level examinations like UGC NET and CSIR NET after completing their Ph. D.

He recalled that in the past, recruitment of teaching faculty used to be done on the basis of educational qualifications, teaching experience at the lower level, research experience, presentation of papers at national and international seminars and awards.

Mr. Lakshmi Prasad demanded justice to candidates, who were affected by the unscientific decision of the APPSC.