Lecturers of government and aided PU colleges stage protest

Opposing the government’s move to assign Pre-Univeristy lecturers to teach the students of class 9 and 10, lecturers of various government and aided Pre-University colleges (PU) staged a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Friday.

They urged the government not to interfere in the autonomy of the colleges. Protesting lecturers said that the Department of Pre-University Education has proposed an amendment to the Karnataka General Services (Pre-University Education) (Recruitment) Rules 2013 where PU lecturers are asked to teach class 9 and 10.

“With the existing system, there are separate cadres and recruitment (C&R) rules for the staff of PU and high school. The high school teachers are within Group-C, while the PU college lecturers are in Group-B. The undergraduate education is not an extension of the school level, it is the source of preparation for higher education. The amendment proposal will create additional teaching burden and hinder the lecturers’ commitment to their duties,” they alleged.

The Karnataka State Government Pre-University College Lecturers’ Association also urged the government not to provide permission to start new private PU colleges for next three years in the State. They demanded the release of remuneration dues towards evaluation of II PUC exams of 2024-25 immediately.