Hundreds of government pre-university college lecturers gathered at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Friday, staging a significant protest against recent departmental directives that they claim are systematically eroding their professional autonomy and changing fundamental aspects of their roles.
Core Issues Sparking the Protest
The educators expressed strong opposition to the appointment of Department of State Education Research and Training (DSERT) officials to assess educational activities within government PU colleges. Lecturers argue that inspections conducted by personnel outside their specific cadre undermine their professional judgment and create unnecessary bureaucratic oversight.
Another major point of contention is a proposed amendment to the Karnataka General Services (Pre-University Education) Recruitment Rules of 2013. This amendment would require PU lecturers to teach classes 9 and 10, effectively merging responsibilities that have traditionally been separate. Currently, PU lecturers (classified as Group B) and high school teachers (Group C) operate as distinct cadres with separate recruitment norms, a system that has maintained clear professional boundaries until now.
Specific Demands from the Lecturers' Association
The protesting association presented several concrete demands to the government. To support and strengthen existing government and aided PU colleges, they insisted that no new private colleges should receive permission to operate for the next three years. This moratorium would allow public institutions to stabilize and improve without increased competition from private entities.
Additionally, lecturers demanded the immediate release of pending remuneration amounting to Rs 13.5 crore related to the evaluation of answer sheets for II PU examinations for the academic year 2024-25. This substantial payment delay has caused financial strain for many educators who performed these evaluation duties.
Broader Implications for Education System
The protest highlights growing tensions within Karnataka's education system regarding administrative oversight and professional autonomy. The lecturers' strong reaction to external assessments by DSERT officials suggests deeper concerns about trust and professional respect between educators and administrative bodies.
The proposed cadre merger between PU lecturers and high school teachers represents a significant structural change that could have far-reaching consequences for recruitment, promotion pathways, and professional specialization within Karnataka's education sector. The separate cadres have historically maintained distinct qualifications and responsibilities, and merging them could fundamentally alter career trajectories for thousands of educators across the state.
As the protest concluded, it remained unclear how the government would respond to these demands. The substantial turnout at Freedom Park demonstrates the seriousness of the lecturers' concerns and suggests that further action may follow if their issues remain unaddressed.
