JAMMU: Universities across Jammu and Kashmir are facing a significant faculty crunch, with nearly 40 per cent of sanctioned teaching positions lying vacant, according to official data from the Higher Education Department.
The figures indicate that while over 3,300 teaching posts have been approved across multiple universities in the Union Territory, only around 1,900 positions are currently filled. This shortfall has forced several institutions to operate with substantially reduced academic staff.
Major universities are among the worst affected. The University of Jammu and the University of Kashmir are functioning with notable vacancies, while agricultural institutions such as SKUAST-Jammu and SKUAST-Kashmir also report considerable gaps in faculty strength. Some universities, including Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and the Islamic University of Science and Technology, are operating with more than half of their teaching posts unfilled.
Central universities in the region present a relatively better picture, though they too face staffing challenges. The data suggests that the shortage varies widely, ranging from about 20 per cent to over 60 per cent across institutions.
Despite the faculty deficit, student enrolment remains high, with over 69,000 students pursuing higher education across universities in the region. This imbalance has raised concerns about increased workload on existing faculty and its potential impact on teaching standards and academic output.
The data also highlights a predominantly local composition of faculty in state universities, while central institutions have a higher proportion of non-local teaching staff.
Overall, the shortage underscores the need for timely recruitment and policy intervention to ensure quality education and smooth functioning of universities in Jammu and Kashmir.