Association urges regularisation of guest lecturer job

The Tamil Nadu Government College Guest Lecturers Association (TNGCLA) has urged the authorities to regularise their employment and extend their salary payment duration from 11 months to one year as per the norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Speaking at a press conference in the city on Wednesday, TNGCLA State coordinator S. Nirmal Raj said, “The DMK government had promised to make the appointments of guest lecturers permanent in their election manifesto but has not yet executed it. As many as 8,500 guest lecturers are working for a meagre salary of ₹25,000 that is paid for 11 months of work. It is unfortunate that highly qualified candidates who have fulfilled all the criteria for employment as teachers are being meted out such shabby treatment.”

The association members also pointed out that the appointment of guest lecturers should not be termed as ‘backdoor entry’ because it implied that the process had been done without public notification or fair selection.

“The vacancies were notified by the Higher Education Department, and eligible candidates were invited to apply. The selection was done on the basis of our qualifications. Our appointments were meant to be contractual and need-based, not permanent. Hence our demands cannot be dismissed as illegal regularisation,” said academician K. Sampathkumar.

The body also said that in the current economic situation, guest lecturers must be paid salaries according to the norms of the UGC, and for a period of 12 months. “A professor in a regular contract can earn up to ₹1 lakh as monthly salary, but guest lecturers can earn only ₹25,000 despite being equally qualified. A large number of guest lecturers have spent the prime of their youth preparing for their teaching career, but it is sad that they cannot aspire to a salary on a par with those in regular contracts. This has paved the way for social and economic disparity within the teaching community,” said Mr. Nirmal Raj.

He added that the success of the government’s student empowerment programmes was largely due to their implementation on the ground level by guest lecturers.