24 PG toppers to be hired as teaching assistants in colleges affiliated to Kolhan University

JAMSHEDPUR: Faced with a shortage of teaching staff, Kolhan University (KU) has announced the appointment of 24 postgraduate (PG) toppers as teaching assistants in its constituent colleges.
KU officials said the 24 toppers, including 15 female students, will be appointed to teach the PG courses in the 2023-24 academic session. “The university will pay them Rs 15,000 per month for their services.They will be inducted for one year initially,” KU spokesperson P K Pani said.
He further said, “The university first began this initiative to appoint the PG toppers for the 2017 batch and since then, the practice is continuing to tackle the manpower crunch.”
This idea was introduced by the former governor and chancellor of universities, Droupadi Murmu, who is currently the President, officials said.
"Then madam chancellor was of the view that the PG toppers should get an opportunity to teach the juniors for a year and in return can earn some money which would help them in their preparation for UGC NET and PhD courses," Pani said, highlighting that the response to this scheme was encouraging.
“Almost 80% of the PG toppers responded positively to our proposal since the beginning. Some refused only because they had shifted base for various reasons,” he said.
The 24 PG toppers, who have been shortlisted for the current appointment, include students of anthropology, history, sociology, physics, geography, philosophy, political science, Sanskrit, economics, Kurmali and Santhali.
With 21 constituent colleges under it, KU is facing a shortage of over 350 teachers. The varsity currently has 410 teaching staff, including 150 permanent teachers and 260 ad hoc appointees. “The appointment of the PG toppers as teaching assistants would aid the varsity in holding classes smoothly and regularly," Pani added.