Rectify college timings: Teachers’ body tells Education Minister

GUWAHATI: An executive meeting was conducted by the Assam College Teachers' Association on July 28 regarding the rectification of college timings in Assam. In regards to this, the association wrote a memorandum to the Education Minister of Assam.

In the memorandum, it was stated that "The working hours for colleges in Assam have traditionally not been from 10 a.m. to 5 P.M. In fact, many colleges in Assam start their classes as early as 8 a.m., with most others doing the same at 9 a.m. Moreover, classes up to 5 P.M. are not practically feasible as the students in the interior and rural areas face transportation and communication problems in the evening, and it is not safe for the girl students to stay in the colleges till 5 p.m. during the winter season due to the early sunset and darkness. The lunch hour from 1 P.M. to 2 p.m. is also an impracticable proposition for the following reasons".

"If one hour is allowed for a fixed lunch break for all the students, no college can accommodate students ranging from 1500 to 4000 in the college canteens. The same is also not possible, even for the nearby restaurant outside the college campus. It will break the class momentum and encourage students to go home before completing their scheduled classes as per the routine. Since all the students have breaks in between their stipulated classes, they should be allowed the flexibility of having Tiffin during such breaks so as not to break the class continuity in the colleges. This type of practise is meant only for schools where the students stay the whole day in the same classroom and have their Tiffin brought from home. The college should be kept open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the teachers should be allowed to come as per their work schedule based on the minimum workload stipulated in the relevant UGC Regulations. It is also essential on the part of the authorities to arrange adequate sanitation, childcare, uninterrupted electricity connection, and ancillary facilities for the women teachers in the colleges for a safe and comfortable stay up to late hours," the memorandum stated.

Further, "the actual class hours of Associate and Assistant Professors are practically higher than the hours stipulated. It is a normal practice for many teachers to perform at least five classes per day, for a total of around 30 hours of weekly class time. Therefore, many teachers are teaching almost double the number of classes as required by the UGC Regulations. Similarly, all the colleges in Assam have been sincerely carrying out the examination process, both external and internal. Also, even during the vacation period, most of the teachers remain engaged in answer script evaluation and the admission process."

"It has become a normal practice for the college teachers to remain engaged in various college-related works during the vacation; we would like to be designated as a non-vacation department, thereby allowing us earned leave for thirty days per year instead of the mere ten days allowed at present. The state universities of Assam, especially GU, have adopted a five-day working week as per UGC Regulations after introducing UG courses on campus; the same arrangement should also be made for the affiliating and autonomous colleges working under similar circumstances under NEP 2020. It is also to be mentioned that there are many departments without any associate professors. Therefore, necessary provisions should be made to designate assistant professors as Heads of departments on a rotational basis in various colleges in Assam."

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