The Save Education Campaign Committee (SUCC) has urged Chief Minister V D Satheesan to revoke the previous LDF government's decision to sanction 85 teaching posts to various institutions under the SN Trust management. The committee stated that the posts were sanctioned in violation of existing norms.
Violation of Norms
According to SUCC, as per the existing rules, teaching posts in colleges are to be sanctioned based on the student strength of the previous academic year. However, the previous LDF government reportedly sanctioned these 85 posts based on student admissions and workload of the year 2022, instead of the student strength prevailing during the previous year of sanctioning. It is further understood that the then Higher Education Minister conducted a special adalat and directly granted these posts, bypassing the rules followed for assessing staff strength.
Decline in Student Admissions
The committee noted that after 2022, there has been a significant decline in student admissions in colleges across the state. At the same time, the previous LDF government did not sanction comparable new teaching posts in government colleges, and many candidates included in existing PSC rank lists are still awaiting appointment.
Concerns Raised
In such circumstances, the decision to sanction 85 additional posts exclusively to one management has caused serious concern among PSC candidates, students, teachers, and the public. SUCC highlighted that this move may create an additional annual financial liability of nearly Rs 15 crore to the state exchequer.
