30% teaching posts vacant in 13 state-run medical colleges of UP

LUCKNOW Nearly 30% of the 2,129 teaching posts, including those of professor, associate professor and assistant professor, in 13 state-run medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh are vacant, according to data from the medical education department.

As many as 936 regular faculty and 553 contractual staff make up for the total strength of 1,489, which means there are 640 vacancies (30%).

“Filing up faculty positions is a continuous process. Many times, contractual staff leaves after giving notice, and often they shift from one college to another. If a faculty working in Banda gets a position in his hometown in Badaun, the position in Banda will become vacant though the teacher is still on government rolls,” stated Alok Kumar, principal secretary, medical education department, UP.

Kumar said, “Fresh appointment of medical teachers is a continuous process, where both regular and contractual staff are being appointed to keep academics smooth.”

“Faculty is the most significant part for a medical college and lack of it causes problems for students,” said Dr PK Gupta, former president, Indian Medical Association, Lucknow.