Editor,

I wish to draw attention to certain concerns regarding the recent recruitment process for assistant professors. These concerns are shared by many candidates who have been preparing and waiting for recruitment opportunities for several years.

First, the recruitment is being conducted after a considerable gap. During this period, candidates from different academic batches completed their examinations under significantly different circumstances, including the Covid-19 period, when examinations were conducted online. As a result, comparing marks obtained under different examination systems and circumstances may place candidates from earlier batches at a disadvantage. Had recruitment been conducted at regular intervals, candidates from different batches would have had more equitable opportunities to compete.

Second, the concern is not against the API score system itself. However, after such a long gap, a common recruitment or screening examination for all eligible candidates could have provided a more uniform basis of assessment. The API score could then have been considered alongside the examination and interview.

Third, there appears to be an issue requiring clarification regarding private academic institutions. Teaching experience from recognised private colleges/universities is reportedly not being counted for the API score, while PhD degrees obtained from recognised private universities are being considered.

This raises a reasonable question: If a PhD from a recognised private university is accepted for academic evaluation, on what basis is genuine teaching experience from a recognised private institution excluded?

The purpose of raising these concerns is not to seek preferential treatment for any particular group of candidates, but to request consistency, transparency and equal opportunity in the recruitment process.

We therefore respectfully request the authorities concerned to clarify the basis of these provisions and, wherever possible, consider measures that ensure a fair opportunity for candidates belonging to different academic batches and those with legitimate teaching experience from recognised institutions.

This appeal is made in the interest of fairness and in the hope that the concerns of aspiring assistant professors will receive due consideration.

A concerned candidate