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Private college teachers to strike against implementation of centralised portal on January 18
Protesting under the banner of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Non-Government Aided Colleges Managements’ Federation (NGACMF), Principals’ Associations, Punjab & Chandigarh Colleges Teachers Union (PCCTU) and Un-aided Private Colleges, the teachers said by implementing a centralised admission portal the autonomy of the non-government colleges is being compromised
Opposing the implementation of the centralised admission portal, teachers of over 200 private colleges in the state have announced to observe a strike on January 18.
Protesting under the banner of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Non-Government Aided Colleges Managements’ Federation (NGACMF), Principals’ Associations, Punjab & Chandigarh Colleges Teachers Union (PCCTU) and Un-aided Private Colleges, the teachers said by implementing a centralised admission portal the autonomy of the non-government colleges is being compromised. They added that the higher education sector in the state is already reeling under an acute financial crisis and the move which is being implemented without any consultation with the college administration, will further aggravate the situation.
There are a total of 143 aided colleges, non-government colleges and 70 unaided colleges in the state.
President of the NGACMF, Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, said the portal is highly discriminatory as state universities, their constituent colleges and private universities have been kept out of its purview. “The higher education institutions are facing acute financial troubles in the wake of the drop in admissions due to the trend among the students to move abroad.”
SM Sharma, general secretary of the federation, said despite several efforts the government has turned a blind eye to the grievances of the colleges. “The government should reconsider the decision of reducing the retirement age of college teachers to 58 which was earlier 60,” he added.
