The University of Pune (UoP) on Friday clarified that MPhil can be considered on par with the National Eligibility Test or State Eligibility Test until the third amendment of the UGC about cancelling the MPhil criteria to teach at the undergraduate level comes into existence.

The issue was discussed in the senate meeting presided by acting V-C Arun Adsool. The Bhalchandra Mungekar Committee had made an amendment in June 2006 that the candidates who complete MPhil till June 30, 2009, would be eligible to teach at undergraduate level and could skip the NET/SET. However, on June 1, the UGC said in a notice on its website that MPhil cannot be considered a qualification for teaching. This upset many MPhil candidates, as they did not attempt the NET/SET.

Senate members argued that the UGC’s notice has not been published in the gazette yet — the UGC has said it would come into effect after its publication. “The UoP should clarify this by issuing a circular, as there is confusion among members of the teachers’ selection panel,” said Shyam Lavande.

However, Adsool said the UoP could not issue any circular in this regard. “The matter was discussed with UGC authorities. However, MPhil will remain the eligibility criteria, subject to change in instructions by the UGC,” he said. On Thursday, R G Sarode of the MPhil action committee had said 20,000 MPhil candidates would suffer if the UGC’s directive was implemented.