AHMEDABAD: Most schools and colleges celebrate Teachers’ Day by asking students to play teacher for a day. But, for engineering colleges across Gujarat, this will be a permanent arrangement soon.

The Gujarat Technological University has decided to tackle acute shortage of faculty in colleges — about 1,700 posts are lying vacant in the colleges across the state — by encouraging students to assist burdened faculty members. GTU recently conducted an examination and enrolled the top 10% — or six students — in every branch in every college. Colleges can take a maximum of 60 students in every branch.

Every year, L D College of Engineering admits 1,505 students against a sanctioned strength of 53 professors but 44 posts are vacant. Similarly, 57 out of 105 posts for assistant professors have remained unfilled. "This is aptly called Bridge Course. The idea of students coming forward and bridging gap between teaching staff and freshers will ease the burden," said a professor of LD Engineering College.

M N Patel, principal of L D College of Engineering, said the top students will get involved in active learning and will be teaching eight or nine small groups.

These six scholar-students picked up from each faculty will assist the students in various activities and even projects. In the absence of teaching staff, these students will act as substitute for the staff.

M R Patel, principal Vishwakarma Engineering College, Chandkheda, says that the college has picked up 20% of students in each faculty. "About 50% of teaching posts are empty. The scholar-students will teach fellow students in place of the lecturers and professors. Each student will also get credits in the subject he teaches."