Move to regularise 4,000 guest lecturers sparks debate
Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com
Chennai:13.11.2019
The state government’s move to regularise guest lecturers in government arts and science colleges has stirred a major debate as aspirants argued that it is against the rules of reservation and UGC regulations.
As many as 2,423 guest lecturers work in shift-1 and 1,661 in shift-2 in 114 government arts and science colleges across the state. They work for just ₹15,000 a month.
The directorate of collegiate education (DCE) asked the regional directorates to gather the details of qualified guest lecturers working in government colleges for more than five years. As per the direction, the guest lecturers with NET/SLET/SET or PhD qualification with five years experience may be regularised.
While the move raised the hope of guest lecturers in government colleges, professors and aspirants criticised it saying the appointment won’t be based on merit.
They pointed out that many colleges appointed guest lecturers without following the roster system or open advertisement. “Regularising them based on their experience would set a wrong precedent,” a professor said, adding it would facilitate corruption in appointment. Along with the guest lecturers in government colleges, lecturers in private colleges too work for a low salary, he added.
V Thangaraj, president of Tamil Nadu All Government Colleges UGC-qualified Guest Lecturers’ Association, said the guest lecturers have contributed immensely in the absence of regular teachers in government colleges. “The state government is not regularising all the guest lecturers. Of 4,000, only around 2,100 may have UGC qualification with five years’ experience,” he said. He also said the guest lecturers should be appointed through advertisements in newspapers.
A functionary from Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers’ Association said all aspirants should get equal opportunity for government jobs. “We are not against guest lecturers. But, they have to come through due process. Their experience in government arts and science colleges alone should not be the criterion,” the functionary said.
Tamil Nadu Government Colleges Guest Lecturers Welfare Association vice-president S Vasanthakumar said the state government is considering regularisation after continuous protests by the guest lecturers. “Some vested interests are opposing the move by the government and planting wrong information,” he alleged.
Officials from higher education department said the government is considering the demand and is yet to make a final decision.
“Many guest lecturers have been working for more than 12, 13 years in the government colleges. On humanitarian grounds, the state government is considering their demand. We will follow reservation and roster system if we regularise them,” officials said.
Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com
Chennai:13.11.2019
The state government’s move to regularise guest lecturers in government arts and science colleges has stirred a major debate as aspirants argued that it is against the rules of reservation and UGC regulations.
As many as 2,423 guest lecturers work in shift-1 and 1,661 in shift-2 in 114 government arts and science colleges across the state. They work for just ₹15,000 a month.
The directorate of collegiate education (DCE) asked the regional directorates to gather the details of qualified guest lecturers working in government colleges for more than five years. As per the direction, the guest lecturers with NET/SLET/SET or PhD qualification with five years experience may be regularised.
While the move raised the hope of guest lecturers in government colleges, professors and aspirants criticised it saying the appointment won’t be based on merit.
They pointed out that many colleges appointed guest lecturers without following the roster system or open advertisement. “Regularising them based on their experience would set a wrong precedent,” a professor said, adding it would facilitate corruption in appointment. Along with the guest lecturers in government colleges, lecturers in private colleges too work for a low salary, he added.
V Thangaraj, president of Tamil Nadu All Government Colleges UGC-qualified Guest Lecturers’ Association, said the guest lecturers have contributed immensely in the absence of regular teachers in government colleges. “The state government is not regularising all the guest lecturers. Of 4,000, only around 2,100 may have UGC qualification with five years’ experience,” he said. He also said the guest lecturers should be appointed through advertisements in newspapers.
A functionary from Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers’ Association said all aspirants should get equal opportunity for government jobs. “We are not against guest lecturers. But, they have to come through due process. Their experience in government arts and science colleges alone should not be the criterion,” the functionary said.
Tamil Nadu Government Colleges Guest Lecturers Welfare Association vice-president S Vasanthakumar said the state government is considering regularisation after continuous protests by the guest lecturers. “Some vested interests are opposing the move by the government and planting wrong information,” he alleged.
Officials from higher education department said the government is considering the demand and is yet to make a final decision.
“Many guest lecturers have been working for more than 12, 13 years in the government colleges. On humanitarian grounds, the state government is considering their demand. We will follow reservation and roster system if we regularise them,” officials said.
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