Mon Dec 01 13:30:21 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text:

Headline: Faculty Shortage Cripples University of Madras, Students Fear for Academic Future

Chennai, December 1, 2025 – Students at the prestigious University of Madras are expressing serious concerns about the quality of their education due to a severe faculty shortage. A staggering 65% of teaching positions remain vacant, leaving students with incomplete syllabus coverage, limited class time, and a lack of diverse perspectives in their courses.

First-year master’s students in the Humanities and Social Sciences report that scheduled classes are frequently shortened or canceled due to the limited number of full-time professors. Many core subjects are being taught by guest lecturers or Teaching-cum-Research Fellows due to the lack of faculty which is impacting in-depth discussions in core subjects. Some departments have as few as one faculty member.

Data obtained through a Right to Information request reveals that of the university’s 71 departments and 22 centers, many have only one or two faculty members. The sanctioned strength is 515 but only 180 positions are filled.

Long-time professors confirm the crisis, stating that departments that once had five or more professors now have only one, hindering research opportunities and impacting the quality of student mentorship. Guest lecturers, who are paid meager wages, are being relied upon to fill the gap, but their role is inherently limited.

The crisis is attributed to two main factors: the absence of a Vice-Chancellor since mid-2023 due to a legal dispute and a consistent failure to conduct regular faculty recruitment. The Tamil Nadu Federation of University Faculty Associations has requested the state government to raise the retirement age for faculty members from 60 to 65 years, similar to other states, as a temporary measure. The university is also facing financial difficulties, which is adding to the complications of filling the vacant positions.

The University of Madras has been contacted for comment, but no response has been received as of yet.

Read More