Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 25: The Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) conducted an assessment exam on Wednesday for clock-hour basis (CHB) faculty at industrial training institutes (ITIs) for the first time, even as it challenges the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal’s (MAT) order in the High Court regarding regularisation of CHB teachers with five years of service.

The move has sparked outrage among fresh teaching aspirants preparing for full-time faculty positions, who called the exam a “back-door entry” for part-time teachers. They have raised concerns over how reservation rules would be applied if CHB faculty pass the test, and whether failure would bar them from teaching. DVET has not clarified how it will use the exam scores.

Concerns have also emerged within CHB ranks. Many of these teachers have long served in lieu of vacant sanctioned posts. Questions have been raised about the five-year threshold, whether other departments would follow suit, and whether the exam signals a one-off policy or a step towards regularising all temporary staff. Faculty members also questioned whether years of service would be negated if someone fails the test, and whether the move could bypass constitutional reservation norms.

DVET defended the exam, with director Madhavi Sardeshmukh stating, “While full-time faculty come through screening, CHB faculty are appointed at the local college level, and there is no clarity on the quality of teachers entering classrooms and teaching our students.” She added that there is no clarity yet on whether faculty would be regularised or how the scores would be used.

The controversy stems from a 2022 government resolution earmarking 15,489 ITI posts for permanent staff and 5,857 for outsourced appointments. A group of CHB instructors led by RB Mote approached the MAT seeking regularisation and higher pay after completing five years of service. While the skills department challenged the MAT order, it now appears to be implementing its spirit by conducting this exam, though its ultimate impact remains uncertain.

A source commented, “The department that challenged the MAT order is now implementing it in spirit, hurriedly and awkwardly. It has not waited for adjudication and has gone on to conduct an exclusive test to convert temporary into tenured. But it is also a test that may mean nothing.”