Teachers beware! The Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University, Professor A S Brar, announced on Wednesday that all teachers of the university’s postgraduate courses will from now on be evaluated by their students. They can also be ‘punished’ if their quality of instruction is found wanting.

Such evaluation is already in place in the country’s IITs and IIMs. The Lucknow University will start with post-graduates but will soon expand the evaluation process to undergraduate courses as well. Prof Brar said, “Future promotions of teachers will depend on the students’ appraisal. They can also face action. We are working out the nitty-gritty before we can place it before the Executive Council.”

Sources said teachers will be appraised four times a year by students. This will be followed by their own self-appraisal. Though such a system is in place in several schools, the Lucknow University will be the first institute of higher learning to implement it.

Professor Brar’s decision has predictably drawn a mixed response. Lucknow University Teachers’ Association president Anil Shukla, said, “It is a novel idea and we shall support him. However, before taking such a step he should have improved the student-teacher ratio. When one teacher instructs over 300 students in a class, he might not be able to give equal attention to all students.”