The Goa government has assured that tens of contract teachers with 10 years of continuous service in colleges and Goa University would be made permanent. Presently, contract teachers cannot write and submit project proposals to funding organisations as they may quit, continue or be replaced. We have Goa State Research Foundation (GSRF), Department of Science, Technology and Environment (DST&E), Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), and Goa State Council for Science and Technology (GSCST) who sponsor research in sciences, humanities, commerce, economics, engineering etc. Though funding is for permanent teachers, but many do not submit project proposals for various reasons. Because contract teachers are ineligible to be funded, their enthusiasm and ideas fizzle off. They could be motivated by allowing them to submit proposals (to some pre-determined budget) as principal investigators. The head of the department or a senior permanent faculty could be the co-investigator, to handle the project if the teacher quits or is replaced. The young teachers could get an opportunity to display their skills, leadership quality and boost their career growth.
SRIDHAR D IYER, Caranzalem
