TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: A psychology lecturer from the Government College at Khandola-Marcel, who was a visiting lecturer at Goa College of Home Science, has been appointed as officiating principal at Home Science College by the government, in addition to his duties at Khandola.
The previous principal Rajal Shinkre, who held the post for around nine years despite Goa University specifically stating that she is not eligible to hold the post, has proceeded on voluntary retirement.
Herald had in its September 1, 2012 edition exposed in detail how Shinkre continued to hold the post despite the Goa University specifically stating that Shinkre did not have the required experience of 10 years as a fulltime lecturer, at the time of appointment as principal and that she did not have the qualifications as mandated in Statute SA-19(vii).
However, a few educationists have questioned the government’s decision to ignore senior lecturers at the Goa College of Home Science who have PhD and are much more senior to Shinkre and who were earlier officiating as principal of this college and chosen to appoint an outstation principal.
Sources in Education Department stated that it maybe because the some senior lecturers had complained to University Grants Commission, Directorate of Higher Education and even filed a case in High Court against Shinkre that such a surprising appointment has been made. Director of Higher Education Bhaskar Nayak has said that this is perfectly within the government’s rights.
Now after, the voluntary retirement of Shinkre, who many say was under pressure, the department is at it again and has appointed an outstation visiting lecturer to head a College in addition to his own duties of lecturing at Khandola in Marcel. It appears that appointing faculty without qualifications also seems to be within their right without any semblance of respect for quality of education, as had happened over the last nine years, an educationist remarked.
Sources in Department of Higher Education stated that back in 2002, the GPSC advertised for the post of principal, and three candidates ~ Rajal Shinkre, Daisy John, the officiating principal and another candidate Rita Godinho ~ applied but none were selected.
A year later, the post was advertised again and the same three applied and this time Rajal Shinkre was selected despite not having the required qualifications and experience for the post and ignoring the other two who were qualified, but were not selected.
This is the second time the government is ignoring the availability of a qualified lecturer from the same college and instead chosen to appoint a lecturer from another college in addition to his duties in that college.
“There is no such thing that a person who is senior in an institution is made the principal. It is a government decision whom to appoint as principal. The person who is appointed is well qualified, and this is not the first time that a principal is being given additional charge,” Bhaskar Nayak said, adding that in his own case he was the Director of Higher Education as well as the Principal of Government College Quepem, leading many to question is this was a case of conflict of interests, especially since the DHE is a promotions, fund and benefit dispensing agency.
“This is only a temporary arrangement,” Nayak added even though he could not comment on how long the temporary arrangement could last.
Another senior educationist pointed out that the higher education department itself is reeling under the weight of persons holding office without qualifications and any vision for higher education in Goa.
There were several allegations against Shinkre during her term as principal including favouritism and arbitrary use of power and despite having around 15 years of service left, many expressed surprise that she had opted for voluntary retirement.
However, the college which has not seen any development in terms of academic standards, many students and faculty feel has a new lease of life with the exit of Shinkre and can develop ahead with vision and excellence.
