<p>Thousands of degree college lecturers in the State are an anxious lot, with the Higher Education department once again mulling over the possibility of increasing their working hours. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Last year too, the department made an attempt to increase their work load. However, there was such a hue and cry that it was forced to “temporarily withhold” the move. <br /><br />What has caused panic among lecturers is a communique by the Department of Collegiate Education (DCE) on June 1, asking joint directors from its six regions and lead principals to come prepared for a discussion on increasing the working hours as well as on the issue of the “sacking of staff” that will result from the move. The issue of increasing the working hours of lecturers is part of a number of concerns such as excess lab fees and the minimum strength required for continuing a course. These will be highlighted at a meeting on June 19 and June 20 at the DCE head office.<br /><br />Presently, a commerce and arts lecturer has to teach a minimum of 16 hours per week while a science lecturer has to teach a minimum of 20 hours. In addition, a lecturer has to invest six hours per week on research. An official said, “We are trying to increase this to 22 hours for arts and commerce lecturers and 26 hours for science lecturers”. <br /><br />Speaking with Deccan Herald, Prof S G Nagaraju, general secretary, Bangalore University College Teacher’s Association (BUCTA), said, “As per the UGC rules of 2006, the workload of an assistant professor is 16 hours and that of an associate professor and professor is 14 hours. What the DCE plans is to cut the hours of research and add it to our working hours and this is highly opposed,” he said.<br /><br />Dr R Ramachandrappa, president of BUCTA, is of the opinion that 24,000 to 30,000 teachers across government and aided colleges in the State will be affected if the increase in workload is implemented.<br /><br />“This will have a direct consequence on the guest lecturers as they will be out of jobs.”<br />H Prakash, president, Federation of University College Teachers Association in Karnataka, said, “If the government goes ahead with the plan, we will have to resort to action like boycotting valuations.” <br /><br /></p>
<p>Thousands of degree college lecturers in the State are an anxious lot, with the Higher Education department once again mulling over the possibility of increasing their working hours. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Last year too, the department made an attempt to increase their work load. However, there was such a hue and cry that it was forced to “temporarily withhold” the move. <br /><br />What has caused panic among lecturers is a communique by the Department of Collegiate Education (DCE) on June 1, asking joint directors from its six regions and lead principals to come prepared for a discussion on increasing the working hours as well as on the issue of the “sacking of staff” that will result from the move. The issue of increasing the working hours of lecturers is part of a number of concerns such as excess lab fees and the minimum strength required for continuing a course. These will be highlighted at a meeting on June 19 and June 20 at the DCE head office.<br /><br />Presently, a commerce and arts lecturer has to teach a minimum of 16 hours per week while a science lecturer has to teach a minimum of 20 hours. In addition, a lecturer has to invest six hours per week on research. An official said, “We are trying to increase this to 22 hours for arts and commerce lecturers and 26 hours for science lecturers”. <br /><br />Speaking with Deccan Herald, Prof S G Nagaraju, general secretary, Bangalore University College Teacher’s Association (BUCTA), said, “As per the UGC rules of 2006, the workload of an assistant professor is 16 hours and that of an associate professor and professor is 14 hours. What the DCE plans is to cut the hours of research and add it to our working hours and this is highly opposed,” he said.<br /><br />Dr R Ramachandrappa, president of BUCTA, is of the opinion that 24,000 to 30,000 teachers across government and aided colleges in the State will be affected if the increase in workload is implemented.<br /><br />“This will have a direct consequence on the guest lecturers as they will be out of jobs.”<br />H Prakash, president, Federation of University College Teachers Association in Karnataka, said, “If the government goes ahead with the plan, we will have to resort to action like boycotting valuations.” <br /><br /></p>
