With the dearth of skilled faculty members in government and aided colleges in the state, the All India Federation of University College Teachers' Organisations has asked the government to increase the retirement age of faculty members to 62 years.
Despite the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2010, which recommended a retirement age of 65 years, teachers in Tamil Nadu colleges retire at 58 years.
“A total of 1,093 posts that were to be filled last year remain vacant. After the creation of 299 new courses recently announced by the government, 841 vacancies will be created over the next three years,” says L. Prathaban, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers' Association.
Since about 100 faculty members retire every year, some colleges combine classes to be handled by a single teacher while others reduce the hours allotted for a subject to squeeze in more classes, said a teacher who attended AIFUCTO's meeting in the city on Sunday.
“In government-aided colleges there are at least 3,000 vacancies. The post of principal is yet to be filled in many institutions. Unless action is taken soon, students will continue to suffer,” said Mr. Prathaban.
Candidates who have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) continue to remain unemployed for years, a faculty member said.
