Ahmedabad: Gujarat govt’s decision to recruit sports assistants in 90 govt colleges through a private contractor at a fixed monthly salary of Rs 21,000 has drawn criticism from academic circles. The recruitment process, approved under a grant from Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG), has sparked criticism regarding the growing trend of outsourcing academic and support staff appointments.However, the company is facing difficulties in finding suitable candidates at the offered salaries, leading to further outreach to universities. The private company, which has been awarded the work order by KCG, has requested universities to help identify and recommend eligible candidates, including current students and alumni with qualifications in Physical Education or Sports Science.The development has triggered a debate in academic circles, with many arguing that allowing private agencies to handle recruitment of qualified people undermines transparency and academic standards.Education experts say that despite repeated discussions on improving educational infrastructure and meeting global benchmarks, the state govt has not carried out permanent recruitment in schools and colleges for several years. They argue that the continued reliance on contract appointments has created instability and made these posts less attractive to highly qualified candidates.
