Teachers not happy with new working hours as Kerala colleges reopen

Thiruvananthapuram: Though students are elated over reopening of the college campuses things have not gone well with all the teachers, in Kerala.

Colleges and universities in the state reopened for students, on Monday complying with Covid safety norms, after a nine-month hiatus.

However, the classes are fixed to be conducted between 8.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on all days, except Sundays.

Around 1,350 higher educational institutions including arts and science colleges, engineering colleges, law colleges as well as all the state universities and the lone central university in the state located in Kasaragod have commenced their classes.

Only 50 per cent of students will be allowed in each class based on the strength, in compliance with strict Covid-19 norms.

However, some teachers have expressed their discontent over the education department's decision to extend the timings of the classes.

Thomas Sebastian, a teacher with a government arts college in the state capital, said, "Workload is very high and with classes between 8.30 a.m. and 5 p.m., teachers are overburdened. Besides, conducting classes on Saturdays is also not a good idea."

Higher Education Department Principal Secretary Usha Titus said that the new arrangement has been made to compensate for the gap and to ensure that the academic session continues normally.

Titus said: "The working pattern will adhere to the University Grants Commission's (UGC) guidelines which mandate 40 working hours a week, of which 16 hours had to be dedicated to the classes of assistant professors and 14 hours for associate professors and professors".

However, teachers point out that they were already working and taking online classes from the institution during the pandemic situation. Only final year and post graduate students have on-campus classes now. For others online classes are continuing.

With the new working hours are stretching the load further, they feel.

Meanwhile the Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran told media that he has already directed the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to immediately take action regarding the roll-out of travel concession to students.