Bengaluru, June 20: The state government has given a big shock to the lecturers of government undergraduate (PUC) colleges in the state. In order to overcome the acute shortage of teachers in high schools, the government has decided to implement an important rule that PU lecturers will have to teach classes 9 and 10 as well. In this regard, the government has brought a significant amendment to the cadre and recruitment rules, and this move of the department has caused severe anxiety and anger among thousands of lecturers.
Important amendment to the Recruitment Rules 2013
The State Government’s School Education and Literacy Department has brought a draft amendment to the ‘Pre-Graduate Education Recruitment Rules-2013’. Accordingly, it has been made mandatory for lecturers working in PU colleges to teach classes 9 and 10 of the high school level in addition to their assigned first and second PUC classes. This rule has come as a big shock to thousands of lecturers in the state who are serving through direct recruitment and promotion.
7-day time limit to file objections
The government has issued a draft notification regarding this rule, giving only a short time of 7 days to the affected lecturers, organizations and the public to file their objections or suggestions. After examining the objections received within this specified period, the government will issue a final order. This hasty action of the government has drawn the ire of PU lecturers.
The State Pre-University College Lecturers’ Association has expressed its strong dissatisfaction and opposition to this controversial decision of the state government. Responding to this, the office bearers of the association have complained that this action of the government is unscientific.
“The teaching style at the high school level and the teaching style at the undergraduate level are completely different. Delegating lecturers who have completed their post-graduation degrees and are appointed to teach only PU students to high schools will severely damage the scientific design of the educational levels. This may also have a negative impact on the quality of education of the students.”
Shortcut to address teacher shortage
It is true that there is a shortage of teachers in hundreds of government high schools in the state. However, there are criticisms that the government has taken this ‘shortcut’ route to put additional work pressure on the existing PU lecturers instead of undertaking the direct recruitment process of new teachers and providing jobs to unemployed youth.
Overall, this new draft rule of the government has sparked a major conflict between the education department and lecturers, and lecturers’ organizations have predicted that in the coming days they will launch a statewide protest against the government.