More than 300 professors and associate professors, some of them holding the post of principals, working in government and aided colleges affiliated to MG University were taken by surprise when they heard about their retirement on Saturday.
The decision was conveyed through an order dated March 27, by an under secretary to the government S K Radhakrishnan, to the MG University Registrar and to the Director of Collegiate Education. The communication said that, notwithstanding an earlier order of the government issued in July 2012, more than 300 professors and associated professors working in government and aided colleges affiliated to MG university need to retire on March 27 and that the university should make all arrangements for the same.
As per the July 2012 order, the state government had fixed the retirement date of professors and associate professors in MG University as April 30, considering that it was the only university in the state that was strictly following the credit and semester system by conducting academic activities in five months and one month vacations in November and May.
Most of the professors did not even know that Wednesday was their last day in college. They left the college for Easter vacation and all of a sudden they came to know from the website of the collegiate education that their service was over by March 27.
Robins Jacob, HoD of Economics, St Albert’s College, Ernakulam, who is one of the professors whose service ended on Wednesday, said that the news of his retirement came as a bolt from the blue.
“I could not say even a good-bye to my fellow professors and students after more than two decades of service. Moreover, all these professors have their portions to be completed in April. Besides that, these professors will have to do the internal assessment for their students and sign their assignments before they are sent to the university. The issue that worries me most is that the studies of several thousands of students will be adversely affected by this order,” he said.
He also said that such an order is an unprecedented in the history of the university.
Meanwhile, various teachers associations including the APCTA and KPCTA have decided to move the court over the issue.
MGU VC A V George has said that the government’s decision will badly affect the academic activities of several students. “The university has some powers with regard to imparting learning, but government did not pay any respect to that when this decision was taken. Home Minister Thirvanchoor Radhakrishnan had a word with me over the issue some time ago and I told that the academic calendar will be adversely affected if such a decision is taken. But I too was surprised when the order reached my office on Saturday,” he added.He also said that the government will have to revoke the order for the smooth conduct of classes and examination this semester which ends on April 30. “I will extend all support to all the associate professors and professors in this regard,” he added.