The Hindu : Assurance does not address main issues, say teachers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Assurance does not address main issues, say teachers

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Aug. 21. The Tamil Nadu Government Collegiate Teachers Association has welcomed the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's announcement of her willingness to hold talks with the striking college teachers.

It requested Ms. Jayalalithaa to formally invite the office-bearers for talks to find an amicable settlement on the ``genuine demands'' of teachers and the students.

Earlier in the day, the TNGCTA justified its decision to go ahead with the ``indefinite strike'' plan, saying the Chief Minister's assurances ``did not address the main social issues'' raised by it.

Reacting to Ms. Jayalalithaa's statement assuring the teachers that their concerns would be looked into, the general secretary, V. Swaminathan, said ``we understand her interest in and concern for the status of higher education.''

After the teachers announced the indefinite strike, Ms. Jayalalithaa released a statement on Tuesday, assuring the teachers that all their existing and terminal benefits would be protected and that there would no change in fee structure or the reservation policy.

But the Universities were already in the red and would not be able to meet the salary expenditure or provide terminal benefits after the merger of the government colleges with them. ``It is anybody's guess how this (meeting the additional expenditure) can be achieved,'' Dr. Swaminathan said noting that the only way out would be a fee hike. Otherwise, courses could be closed on grounds of ``non-viability.''

Educationists, who are following the recent developments, note that recently the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education had constituted a committee on financing of higher education. Even while stating grants could be frozen at current levels, the committee suggested a gradual increase of the fee structure (now believed to be very low), raising seat strength in colleges, renting out college facilities like halls, classrooms, dining halls, guest houses and sports fields, and offering short-term courses. It also suggested strengthening of alumni and parent-teacher forums, and increasing industry interaction through research activities.

Also, it wanted a merger of classes in courses which attracted a lesser number of students in different colleges.

A retired Vice-Chancellor suggested, although only in the context of engineering colleges, creation of a corpus fund with contribution by `payment category' students, the government and private college managements.

This could fund the education of the poor students, instead of depending on government funds.

A former Madras University Vice-Chancellor, P.T. Manoharan, mooted the concept of increasing seat strength in popular courses and filling of the additional seats on merit basis by ``premium fee paying students.'' But the suggestion was shot down by teacher associations.

However, a section of academicians says the teachers themselves are to blame for the present situation.

The Education Minister, M.Thambi Durai, has frequently remarked that for too long, the teachers neglected academic affairs and educational quality, but opposed revision of workload norms.

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Assurance does not address main issues, say teachers