4 days ago
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Thousands of teachers successful self-financing colleges affiliated with the University of Calicut are apt to suffer their jobs arsenic the authorities are readying to marque clearance of the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) oregon a PhD mandatory for the assignment of module members.
A directive for the intent was issued earlier this twelvemonth by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is besides the Chancellor of State Universities. Sources successful the Vice-Chancellor’s bureau told The Hindu on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) that the assemblage had besides issued orders to instrumentality the UGC guidelines. Affiliation of the colleges would beryllium cancelled if the guidelines were not adhered to, they added. Over 250 self-financing colleges dispersed crossed Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Wayanad districts are affiliated with the university. According to reports, 7,500 teachers whitethorn get affected.
Organisations representing self-financing assemblage teachers, however, said that implementing the directive reeked of hypocrisy. K.P. Abdul Azeez, State associated secretary, Self-Financing College Teachers and Staff Association affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, said that if the authorities were truthful keen connected enforcing UGC guidelines for teachers’ qualifications, they should besides guarantee that the salaries besides met the Central agency’s standards. In astir colleges, the concern was pathetic. Even those with qualifications were getting ₹20,000 oregon little arsenic monthly salary, helium claimed.
Shafi Pulppara, State president of the Congress-aligned Self-Financing College Teachers’ Association (SFCTA), said erstwhile a akin directive was issued by the assemblage authorities successful erstwhile years, teachers’ organisations were told that talks would beryllium held earlier implementing it. “We had besides demanded that capable clip beryllium provided for acquiring the qualifications... There are teachers with adjacent 20 years experience, but without the required qualifications and it volition beryllium unfair to disregard them from service,” helium said.
Mr. Shafi alleged that attempts were made by the authorities astatine a assemblage successful Nilambur, Malappuram, to terminate the services of “unqualified” teachers. There were akin reports from colleges successful Perambra and Mukkom successful Kozhikode. In a fewer colleges successful Palakkad, the teachers themselves discontinue their jobs. The attempts were enactment connected clasp for the clip being aft teachers’ unions raised objections, helium added.
Mr. Shafi besides said that the assemblage was yet to see Kerala Self-Financing College Teaching and Non-Teaching Employees (Appointment and Terms of Service) Act, which was passed by the Assembly successful 2021, successful its statues, which would person streamlined the assignment and work conditions of the teachers. Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Roji M. John has reportedly promised a conception of teachers that their concerns would beryllium addressed.
