Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Wednesday issued an order, mandating that a workload of minimum 16 hours per week is required for sanctioning and filling up teaching posts at aided arts and science colleges.
No teaching post will be allowed for a workload of less than 16 hours, even if it is a single facuty subject.
This could impact the 2,000-odd teaching posts at various colleges in the state. It is likely that there would be fewer teacher recruitment at colleges for the next 10 years.
The current order on sanctioning the teaching posts was revised in accordance with UGC Regulations 2010 adopted by the state.
The sanction of posts for a workload of less than 16 hours will incur a huge financial burden on the state which cannot be borne at the present juncture of financial crisis, the order states.
Only guest lecturers can be appointed in posts with less than 16 teaching hours. However, those who, have been already given appointments, would not lose their jobs. They would continue as supernumerary.
If these posts fall vacant due to retirement, resignation or any other reason, then the new order would come into effect and the permanent post would cease to exit.
Applicable to universities too
The government order specifies that the new rules are applicable to the universities too. And they would have to amend the university rules in accordance to the order.
The order has retrospective effect from May 9, 2018.
Currently, new posts can be created if there is more than 9 hours of duty. Also, a minimum of five lecturers can be appointed for one PG course. However, as per the new order, the number of teachers for one PG course has been cut short from five to three.
The vacancies arising this academic year due to retirement cannot be filled. Guest lecturers have been taking class at the government colleges for the past five years. Therefore, no permanent recruitments would be made at the government colleges as per the new work load.
Salary of engineering teachers revised
The government has also issued orders, revising the salary of teachers at all engineering colleges and universities in the state as per the pay scale mandated by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The salary of engineering college teachers has been revised with retrospective effect from January 2016. The salary dues would be merged with the PF. This can be withdrawn in four instalments in January 2023. However, questions remain on whether the private engineering colleges would be able to bear the financial burden due to this order. The order, with full details, has been put up on the government website.