Part-time teachers upset

Part-time teachers engaged in state-aided non-government colleges in Malda district are upset about the non-implementation of the recent government order that was announced on 27 February.

It talks about the enhancement of their remuneration structure which will come into effect from 1 April, 2009.

According to the government order, all part-time teachers will be entitled to get Rs 7, 000 after gaining a four-year experience, and Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 will be paid to one who has an experience of 10-years or more.

Fearing retrenchment by college authorities a section of part-time teachers engaged in some of the state-aided colleges are not even in the financial position to launch an agitation demanding the new pay structure declared by the government.

Interestingly, some college authorities have sent the list of part-time teachers to the directorate of public instruction (DPI) for approval, while some of them did not take the initiative of enhancing the remuneration for the existing teachers.

The association of part-time teachers in Gour Mahavidyalaya alleged that the principal of the Malda College did not send the list of a total of 28 part time teachers to the DPI for approval. The Malda College authorities allegedly claimed that the part time teachers did not have ‘UGC stipulated qualification'.

Many teachers in Malda College have been receiving Rs 4,000 since eight to 10 years. This issue has raised debate among the teachers and principals of many colleges when they were informed that many part-time teachers in south Bengal have got the enhanced remuneration.

Reacting to the issue the principal of the Malda College, Mr Aniruddha Sengupta said: “Remuneration of part-time teachers should be equal in all colleges. But we can not pay the extra amount of money from our own fund. If the government provides the required amount nobody will be left deprived."

However, Mr Sengupta later said: “I do not know whether any list has gone from our office. I would look into the matter."

The principal of Gour Mahavidyalaya, Mr Pranatosh Sen said: “We have already sent the list of our part time teachers to the DPI. We have also replied to some clarifications sought by the DPI. We are hoping that part-time teachers will be getting their enhanced remuneration soon”.

A total of 40 part-time teachers are working in Gour Mahavidyalaya.

“The present issue of part time teachers’ qualification (UGC stipulated) is not applicable for them who had been appointed before the date when the present order was issued. We find difficulties to get highly qualified part time teachers in science department. Principals’ association has been demanding exemption of qualification rigid bar for the appointment of part time teachers," Mr Sen said.

“We have sent a list of our part time-teachers and their information in detail sought by the DPI. But we do not know when they will get the money they are entitled to," said Mrs Chaitali Chattaraj, principal of Malda Women's college.

“We pay the part-time teachers from our own college fund. Government pays 50 per cent of their total remuneration”, she said. SNS