Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)  

Mangalore, Mar 25: A dharna was staged by the college teachers affiliated to the Association of Mangalore University College Teachers (AMUCT) in front of the regional offices of the directorate of collegiate education on Monday March 24. 

The protest was launched to focus on the plight of the staff both teaching and non-teaching who have not taken home their salary grants since November 2007, on account of securing less than ‘B’ grade in accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).  

This is causing a great deal of inconvenience and anguish to the teachers and others who are without salary for four months and in fact a matter of grave concern for the teaching fraternity in the state. Earlier there were about forty seven colleges who were accredited less than ‘B’ grade by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

In the one-year time period allotted by the collegiate department to upgrade the rankings, several colleges had improved their status and as of now 16 colleges are remaining without grants. Currently no college in Mangalore University area is below ‘B’ grade.
 
Speaking at the meeting here FUCTAK president prof  A M Narahari opined that NAAC assessment should in no way be tied to the grant-in-aid system and it is unfortunate that only in Karnataka such a linking is being done.

He clarified that the Federation does not question the need for quality in educational institutions but targeting and penalizing only teachers for the lack of quality is not correct as there are several stakeholders in private institutions, he pointed out.

Once the dharna ended urging the government to release the salary grants at the earliest, a copy of the memorandum urging for immediate release of salaries for affected colleges was submitted to the Dr Linda Christi, joint director of collegiate education.

AMUCT president Prof Joselyn T Lobo, general secretary Prof Ummappa Poojary and others were present.