iStock imageThiruvananthapuram: The functioning of government and aided arts & science colleges in the state is likely to be hit following a strike called by the guest lecturers in these institutions. The lecturers, numbering around 3,000, are protesting against their meager pay, which is even lesser than that of their counterparts in higher secondary schools having lower qualifications.
The All-Kerala College Guest Lecturers Union has given a call for a token strike on January 25, followed by an indefinite stir from February 5. Their main demand is equal pay for equal work. This is for the first time that guest lecturers are resorting to the path of agitation.
Union leaders say the government gives least priority to their demands. With an unofficial recruitment ban in place, there are numerous vacancies in colleges and around 3,000 guest lecturers are filling the gap. With rules limiting the pay of guest lecturers to half of regular faculty’s, the government finds it convenient to avoid making permanent appointments in arts & science colleges.
Even though regular degree courses have been witnessing a renewed demand in recent times, the government is maintaining a lackadaisical attitude regarding faculty postings, which has been adversely affecting academic activities.
It has been pointed that guest lecturers’ emoluments were revised back in 2012. They now earn a maximum of Rs 25,000 a month depending on the number of classes conducted, while guest lecturers in higher secondary schools lacking qualifications such as PhD and NET have been taking home up to Rs 34,000 per month over the last two years.
Guest lecturers in arts & science colleges also say that it is grossly unfair that they are paid barely Rs 25,000 while some of their counterparts in engineering colleges and schools get above Rs 40,000. Even the Rs 25,000 could be earned only if they get 50 hours of classes. However, disruptions to academics caused by students’ stir, hartal etc. lead to loss of hours as well as pay. There is no income on calendar holidays and during university exams as well. For a three-hour exam duty, guest lecturers are given a mere Rs 60. As a result, their average salary is below Rs 20,000 a month. Even that is often paid after a year. In districts like Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasargod and Wayanad, the delay extends to even four years, forcing most guest lecturers to change vocations.
At present, guest lecturers with NET are paid Rs 500 per hour and those lacking the qualification Rs 300. Though the government had ordered a payment of Rs 1,550 per day to guest lecturers back in 2016, the Department of Collegiate Education has not implemented the scale in arts & science colleges.
With issues like recognition of courses sanctioned in 2012 and staff fixation still pending, several guest lecturers have not been paid for even five years. Though memorandums seeking salary hike have been submitted to the chief minister, education minister and finance minister, there has been no response, say guest lecturers.
In most newly sanctioned colleges in north Kerala, all the classes are handled by guest lecturers. In many colleges, several lecturers deal with one subject during an academic year. It is shocking that even when the situation is so grave, the education minister, a former college faculty himself, is taking no action, said the union leaders.
Another grouse of the guest lecturers is that while the government is vocal regarding the salaries of nurses in private hospitals and teachers and staff of unaided colleges, it is indifferent to the demands of a section of highly qualified teachers in government and aided colleges facing gross injustice.
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