UGC issues directives on revised pay

AHMEDABAD, Jan 17: The University Grants Commission UGC issued new directives for implementation of revised pay scales, improvement in ...

AHMEDABAD, Jan 17: The University Grants Commission UGC issued new directives for implementation of revised pay scales, improvement in quality of education, job conditions and recruitment of teachers. Although a notification to this effect had been passed on December 24 last, Gujarat University issued a circular only recently, Gujarat University Area Teachers8217; Association president K S Shastri and secretary K G Mehta said in a release on Sunday.

According to UGC directives, the highest pay scale of Rs 14,940 has been prescribed for teachers who have completed five years in selection grade of senior teachers. One increment in new pay scales has been prescribed for every three increment in old pay scales.

It also has provision to consider total experience for selection grade. Two pay scales have been prescribed for college principals. Principals having 15 years of teaching or research experience will be given pay scales of Professors and for those having experience of 10 years will be given pay scales of a Reader.

The UGC has also asked universities to prepare a code of conduct for teachers and non-teaching employees and also recommended to include this code under the University Act, Statute of Ordinance. It also recommended to give proportionate pay, dearness allowance, increment and incentives of senior grade and selection grade teachers for part-time teachers.

Universities and colleges have also been given authority to use seminar system for appointment of new teachers. Now Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe as well as candidates who had completed post-graduate courses before 1991 or having Phd will require only 50 per cent marks instead of 55 per cent at the post-graduate level for appointment. Only those teachers having 15 year8217;s research or teaching experience at under-graduate level will be allowed to apply for direct appointment of Professors.

A Phd has been made compulsory for the post of Reader and a teacher having eight year8217;s experience as Reader will be eligible for the post of Professor but they have to send three best published papers on education improvement and self evaluation report to experts.

One hundred and eighty days of actual teaching during an academic year has been prescribed. The directives further advocated five hour8217;s presence for college and university teachers.