Patna, Oct. 27: Rationalisation of teachers could well be a roadblock for state universities in submitting budget proposals within the November 30 deadline.

In June, the state education department directed universities to carry out rationalisation of teachers — a process of shifting of teachers from departments or colleges having excess number of teachers to other departments and colleges having fewer teachers.

On the basis of rationalisation report, there will be appointments of 3,493 teachers. On October 17, the department sent a letter to nine universities asking them to submit budgetary proposals for 2013-14 by November 30 on the basis of rationalisation of teachers.

However, the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations of Bihar (Futab) feels that most of the universities were yet to complete the process.

Futab general secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh said: “According to the directive, the rationalisation of teachers would have to be done according to the student-teacher ratio of 2007-08. But since 2007-08, the number of students in universities has increased manifold while the teachers’ strength has gone down as no new teacher was appointed after that academic year.”

Singh added that Futab’s main demand was that rationalisation of teachers should be done on the basis of student-teacher ratio of 2011-12.

However, education department director (higher education) Sitaram Singh said: “The primary objective of asking universities to submit budgetary proposals by November 30 is that salary for teachers and other expenses can be calculated well in advance.”