Shortage of teaching faculty in medical colleges: some suggestions to overcome the problem.

摘要

We have been following with keen interest the views expressed in recent issues of the Journal regarding the shortage of medical faculty.!~3 We would like to share some observations and offer our comments and suggestions. We agree with Dr Tongia about ensuring 'the availability of experienced and quality teachers to continue with the high academic standards'.1 However, we have reservations against 'increasing of superannuation age to 70 years' as a proposed solution.1 It was with this objective that the age of retirement was earlier raised from 58 years to 60 years and now to 65 years. Nonetheless, this has not had the desired effect. Hence, increasing the age of retirement is no solution. We do agree that merit and proficiency should be the basis for recruitment and even continuation, and anyone with 'the ability and competence should be allowed to teach'.2 We emphasize the need to develop a system which would ensure the availability of willing, healthy and enthusiastic teachers rather than people remaining on the rolls for the purpose of certification and meeting the requirements/ stipulated norms.