Calicut University freezes order allowing Economics teachers to handle Statistics paper in MA Economics
The University of Calicut froze an order that would have allowed Economics teachers to handle a Statistics paper
The University of Calicut froze an order that would have allowed Economics teachers to handle a Statistics paper
The University of Calicut froze an order that would have allowed Economics teachers to handle a Statistics paper
Kozhikode: The University of Calicut on Thursday froze an order allowing Economics teachers to handle a Statistics paper in the MA Economics course— an order that, if implemented, could have reduced the workload and effectively the post of Statistics teachers in several colleges.
Vice-Chancellor Prof P Raveendran put the order on hold following objections from Senate member Prof Chacko V M, a Statistics professor at St Thomas College, Thrissur, and Academic Council member Dr Girish Babu M, Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at Government Arts and Science College, Calicut.
The earlier order, dated October 6, 2025, approved a resolution of the Postgraduate Board of Studies in Economics to reallocate Quantitative Techniques for Economic Analysis — a statistics paper — from the Statistics department to the Economics department. The board argued that the course formed part of the MA Economics syllabus and that workload anomalies needed correction. It proposed that while Statistics teachers currently in service could continue handling the paper, the workload should shift to Economics departments upon their retirement.
The decision, however, triggered strong objections from the Statistics faculty, who pointed out that the paper was entirely statistical in content and that such a shift would violate University Grants Commission (UGC) norms requiring teachers to hold postgraduate degrees in the subject they teach. Faculty members also warned that the decision would adversely affect the workload and service conditions of Statistics teachers in aided and government colleges, particularly with only one Statistics faculty member.
Responding to these concerns, the Vice-Chancellor issued a new order freezing the earlier directive "till further orders."
The suspension effectively restores the status quo, allowing Statistics teachers to continue handling the paper in MA Economics, said Prof Chacko. He said several colleges had started implementing the October order, which could have led to salary disruptions, workload imbalances, and even job losses for Statistics teachers.
He said in 1990, the University of Calicut, and in 1995, Mahatma Gandhi University, directed — under high court supervision — that Statistics papers be taught only by Statistics-qualified teachers. Since then, colleges have followed that norm.