http://www.livemint.com/…/Parliamentary-panel-raises-questi…New Delhi: Raising serious questions about the quality of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) holders in the country, a parliamentary panel has sought an evaluation report to understand why suitable candidates were hard to find for vacant teaching posts. With over 7,000 research scholars being awarded Ph.D every year, the panel has suggested “reorienting” the entire system of evaluation of Ph.D and other research scholars. In its report tabled in Parliament last week, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on human resource development stressed on increasing the number of research fellowships and new schemes for teaching assistantship, taking into account the shortage of teaching faculty in higher educational institutes. Drawing attention to the quality aspect of Ph.D holders, the committee said they were rolling out of Indian universities like dime a dozen. “The Committee would like to have an evaluation report, if any, about the quality and standard of Ph.D holders across the country to understand why suitable candidates are difficult to find for the vacant positions. Maybe we need to reorient the entire system of evaluation of Ph.D and other research scholars,” it said in its report. Shortage of faculties in premier institutes such as Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) continues to be grim with no improvement foreseen in the near future, it said. To address the issue, it suggested that if stricter norms for the appointment of faculty is coming in the way, then University Grants Commission (UGC) and other regulatory bodies should review them on regular basis and bring in necessary changes so as to fill up the vacant posts at the earliest. “HRD ministry should take steps to enhance the prestige of the teaching profession,” it said. Prof. N.LAXMAN RAO, Member, Advisory Board, National Library, KolkataPresident, Telangana Library Association. UGC-Emeritus Fellow (2009-11) Professor in Library and Information Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad ( super-annuated). Formerly Director, UGC-Academic Staff College (2006-8). Formerly President of Indian Association of Teachers in Library and Information Science ( IATLIS) and Association of British Scholars ( AP Chapter) . ADDRESS: Plot No A-194, H No 1-8-10/1, Ravindra Nagar, Habsiguda, HYDERABAD- 500007. Mobile: 9493701565. email: naglaxman@yahoo.com, naglaxman@gmail.com. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.