First term syllabus of colleges limps

The 44-day college teachers' strike has cast its shadow on the college campuses with non-completion of 75 per cent of syllabus of the first term.

The 44-day college teachers’ strike has cast its shadow on the college campuses with non-completion of 75 per cent of syllabus of the first term. As there are no specific instructions on how to make up for the lost days,the principals are a worried lot finding themselves in helpless position on how to complete the syllabus.

The federation of college principals in the state held a meeting on Sunday to discuss the issue have now decided to put the ball in the court of higher education director. The federation will meet the director on Monday and will demand him to come out with modalities on how to complete the first term curriculum.

Around 20 principals of various colleges from across the state were present for the meeting. President of the federation Nandakumar Nikam said that the government had not come up with any guidelines on how to complete the syllabus and the principals or university had no rights to take any decision in this regard.

“Some colleges have started conducting lectures on Sundays. But since the minutes of the meeting held between college teachers’ organisation and the state government say that the “leave vacations” should be used for completion of curriculum,the technical issue is we cannot call the teachers on Sundays as it is weekly off. Only option is to use Diwali vacations but that will not be sufficient. Moreover,the government has ordered us not to give the payment of teachers for the strike period. If they take classes on Sundays and government refuses to give payment,we will be in trouble,” he said.

Nikam said,”Now with the code of conduct in place,the state government cannot take any decision. So we will be requesting the director of higher education to come up with modalities.”

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