Tamil Nadu Directive Assigns Placement Duties to Heads of Departments, Drawing Criticism from Activists

New Higher Education Department Directive

The Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department has issued a directive requiring Heads of Departments (HoDs) across higher education institutions to take on the primary responsibility of preparing students for employment. According to an official letter communicated on Friday to the Commissioner of Collegiate Education, the Director of Technical Education, and university registrars, HoDs are instructed to establish formal ties with three to five private business houses relevant to their specific industries.

These associations are intended to be formalized through memoranda of understanding to facilitate periodic student interactions, curriculum feedback, industry-related tasks, and mini-projects. The directive applies broadly, including departments focused on basic sciences and commerce. Furthermore, the Department has compiled a list of 173 skills mapped to various subjects taught in Arts and Science colleges—such as digital marketing for languages and social sciences—and instructed HoDs to select specific skill training verticals.

Institutions are directed to coordinate with the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE) for support and training requirements, and to submit a list of five placement coordinators per institution.

Reactions and Criticisms

Education activists and teacher associations have voiced strong opposition to the new mandate, calling for its rollback.

• Academic Focus: Critics argue that subject experts and professors should focus on guiding research, managing academic processes, and overseeing curriculum design rather than performing placement officer duties.
• Policy Concerns: The State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), through general secretary P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu, claimed the directive reflects components of the National Education Policy 2020, arguing it risks transforming higher education centers into vocational training hubs.
• Staffing Shortages: S. Suresh, General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association, pointed out that government Arts and Science colleges face thousands of vacant positions, arguing that filling permanent faculty vacancies should remain the primary priority.

Practical Implications and Verification

How to Verify

Readers and stakeholders seeking to verify the details of this policy can consult official circulars published by the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department, announcements from TANSCHE, or official press releases issued by registered teacher associations and educational councils in the state.