The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Colleges have to grapple with large number of vacancies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Colleges have to grapple with large number of vacancies

By Shastry V. Mallady

MADURAI, MAY 22 . Colleges in the southern districts will reopen on June 16 after vacation. But the managements are feeling jittery, what with a large number of vacancies for teachers. "The Government has to give a serious thought to the teaching requirements of all 214 government-aided colleges in the State," says G. Thiruvasagam, general secretary, Madurai Kamaraj University College Principals' Association.

Each college, he says, has 15-20 vacancies, on average, over the past six years, thanks to the voluntary retirement scheme, besides superannuation. This does not augur well for students, as the colleges have to make do with "inexperienced teachers".

Calling for immediate sanction to fill the vacancies, he says some colleges in the region have up to 37 vacancies. Moreover, the next two years will be crucial for colleges, as "many more experienced teachers are about to retire".

"Many senior teachers opt for voluntary retirement, prompted by the fears that the Government might take away their pension and gratuity benefits," Dr. Thriuvasagam says.

On the other side, some colleges appoint teachers on a part-time basis, and pay meagre salaries to even qualified teachers. "The posting-ousting policy is not good for colleges and students," he feels.

Dr. Thiruvasagam, a member of the Syndicate of the Madurai Kamaraj University, points out that some departments in colleges have only single teachers. The total vacancies in 37 aided colleges under the MUK would be over 300, he says.

The State Government should look into the issue immediately, in the interest of higher education, he adds.

Teachers' plea

The Tamil Nadu Aided Schools Non-Teaching Staff Association has urged the State Government to permit filling vacancies, which arose in schools in the last two years.

The ban on filling vacancies in high schools and higher secondary schools "has caused hardship to both students and teachers," the association president, S. Durairaj, said in a release.

The association also demanded that dearness allowance for government employees and retired staff be sanctioned on a par with what was given to the Central Government staff. The association welcomed the Government's decision to withdraw all cases against its employees and teachers. It appealed to the Chief Minister to restore the status of employees' associations.

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