Latest news with #V.Thangaraj
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Guest lecturers concerned over low remuneration for attending faculty development programmes
Guest lecturers in government arts and science colleges have expressed concern over being repeatedly assigned to attend the faculty development programme (FDP) under the Naan Mudhalvan scheme for low remuneration and have suggested that the authorities should regulate the upskilling initiative with a higher allowance. 'The FDP is held to re-train teachers and equip them with the skills and knowledge to deal with the new generation of students and subjects in Naan Mudhalvan. While we appreciate the initiative, we have noticed that many institutions are giving their guest lecturers the task of attending the six-day programme, with a daily allowance of ₹250. This amount is not sufficient to cover even the travel cost of commuting to the training centres,' V. Thangaraj, state president, Tamil Nadu All Government College UGC Qualified Guest Lecturers Association, told The Hindu. 'Guest lecturers are already working for lesser pay, and are sanctioned salaries only for 11 months of the year. Pressuring them to attend FDPs on such a low allowance is not fair,' said Mr. Thangaraj. A Lalgudi-based teacher, who recently attended an FDP session on the Khajamalai campus of Bharathidasan University in Tiruchi, said: 'We have to spend out of our pocket, because the allowance is sanctioned only a few months after the FDP. The authorities could increase the amount to ₹500 to make it more affordable for participants,' said . 'It takes at least two hours for us to reach the training facility, especially if we are travelling by bus,' he added. Some guest lecturers said they were being singled out by their institutions to attend the FDPs, while permanent staff were being excused. Mr. Thangaraj also suggested that laptops could be commissioned for all teaching staff, as it would streamline their work, especially in conjunction with Naan Mudhalvan requirements. 'At present, teachers who do not own a laptop are made to share computer terminals during the FDPs. Most of our work is digitalised these days. Laptops will help us to do it better,' said a teacher.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Concern over lack of language majors in new government arts and science colleges
Faculty associations have raised concerns over the absence of majors in Tamil and English at the newly launched government arts and sciences colleges in the State. Based on representations from the public, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday ordered the establishment of State-run arts and science colleges in four more districts, in addition to the recently inaugurated colleges at 11 locations. 'The opening of new colleges, especially in remote villages, is to be appreciated, as it will enable students from economically weaker sections and rural areas to pursue higher education. However, it is surprising that there is no provision for teaching Tamil or English as major subjects. Proficiency in these languages is essential for competitive civil services exams and job-oriented courses,' V. Thangaraj, president, Tamil Nadu All Government UGC-qualified Guest Lecturers Association, told The Hindu. At present, the syllabi of the 11 colleges established in Cheyyur, Chengalpattu district, Alandur (Chennai), Panruti (Cuddalore), Natham (Dindigul), Kolakkanatham (Perambalur), Manamadurai (Sivaganga), Thiruvidaimaruthur (Thanjavur), Coonoor (Nilgiris), Ottapidaram (Thoothukudi), Muthupettai (Tiruvarur) and Vikravandi (Villupuram) each offer five courses. The subjects covered include Political Science, History, Commerce, Computer Science, Zoology, and Business Management, among others. The courses will be taught through English and Tamil medium of instruction. 'Instead of deputing current faculty to the new institutions, we hope the authorities will create permanent postings in them. We already have over 4,000 regular vacancies in the existing government colleges, that have to be filled up,' said P. David Livingstone, State president of Tamil Nadu Government Collegiate Teachers' Association. Sources at the Government Arts and Science College, Kolakkanatham, which was inaugurated on May 26, said that courses could be expanded in future based on students' requirements. 'B.A. Tamil is preferred by differently abled and rural candidates, as it helps them to prepare for government and teaching jobs. We also need courses in Geology and Geography, as many businesses based in these sectors operate in Kolakkanatham, and students may benefit from getting in-depth exposure to these subjects,' said a college faculty member.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Given invigilator assignment in May without salary, say guest lecturers
The assignment of exam invigilator duty to guest lecturers in May when they do not get any salary has raised concern among educators. Guest lecturers said the exam cells of some government colleges were pressuring them to do invigilator duty. 'I was assigned four days of exam duty in April, of which I have completed three, and deputed the last one to another guest lecturer staying closer to the campus. We are paid ₹150 per exam day, but I have to spend at least ₹110 on the commute to the college in Aravakurichi from my home in Paramathi Velur. The college exam cell staff have said that any person I depute would be taken on for additional duties and I would still have to carry out the invigilation duty myself,' a Tamil guest lecturer, requesting anonymity, told The Hindu. A guest lecturer working in a government college in Lalgudi said he had been assigned five days of exam duty, and would have to attend despite the paltry pay. 'Private colleges in Tiruchi offer invigilators ₹250 per exam. There are at least 200 guest lecturers in Tiruchi district's government colleges who face this precarious situation every year,' he said. Some colleges were enlisting the services of guest lecturers to help out with the admissions process in May, added the lecturer. 'Besides taking care of administrative work, we are expected to canvass for new students. This is unfair because the same job could be done by regular staff, who are paid their full emoluments,' he said. Guest lecturers receive a monthly salary of ₹25,000 for 11 months. The pay cheque for the exam invigilation is issued several months after May. In an official release, V. Thangaraj, president, All Government UGC Qualified Guest Lecturers Association, said: 'Exams are conducted in at least 75% of the government colleges in Tamil Nadu every year. However, it is regrettable that guest lecturers, who receive salary only for 11 months, are forced to work as invigilators in May every year by the Directorate of Collegiate Education, even though they are not paid a regular salary. We urge the authorities to rectify this situation.'
