Guest lecturers seek regular jobs

Jalandhar, March 2

Guest lecturers of government colleges in the district under the banner of the Government Colleges Guest Faculty Lecturers’ Association held a protest here today against the state government at the Government College of Education, Ladowali road, demanding regularisation of their services.

Harminder Singh, president of the association, said it had been over a decade that the guest faculty had been appointed in various colleges, but none of the governments had ever evinced interest in regularising their services.

“The guest faculty are serving on a basic pay and have spent the golden period of their lives in serving the colleges,” he said. He said in the state, there were 48 government colleges. Over 1,500 posts of guest lecturer, over 1,000 guest faculty and 255 part-time lecturers had been taking classes.

Vice-president of the association Ravinder Mansa said since 2003, guest faculty were being appointed on merit as per instructions of the Higher Education Department and proper advertisements were given for appointments.

“The guest faculty joined the services on a meagre pay of Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,000. Though they are getting Rs 21,600 now, no government has ever thought about making their services regular,” he said.

Mansa said for 15 years, the guest teachers, besides teaching, were also taking part in all activities and programmes in colleges regularly. — OC