Now, job security for extension, guest lecturers; 2,062 teachers set to benefit

Close on the heels of job security to about 1.2 lakh contractual employees till the age of retirement, the Nayab Singh Saini government is set to extend a similar benefit to extension lecturers and guest lecturers.

The Haryana Extension Lecturers and Guest Lecturers (Security of Service) Bill, 2024, will be introduced in the Haryana Assembly tomorrow to guarantee job security to the college teachers.

A total of 2,062 teachers — 2,016 extension lecturers and 46 guest lecturers — are set to benefit once the Bill is passed by the Assembly.

According to Mahipal Dhanda, Higher Education Minister, it is proposed to provide security of service to the extension and guest lecturers till of the age of 58 along with financial incentives as some of these lecturers have crossed the minimum age limit for applying for regular recruitment. It will also be in the interests of students.

“Every eligible extension and guest lecturer, who has competed at least five years of service on the appointed date (August 15, 2024) shall continue to work as such till he attains the age of superannuation,” the Bill states.

“An eligible extension and guest lecturer shall be entitled to receive remuneration of Rs 57,700 per month plus enhancement as per the percentage of dearness allowance (DA) announced by the government with effect from the first day of January and the first day of July every year,” the Bill states.

Currently, there are 8,137 sanctioned posts of assistant professor in 184 government colleges having a student strength of around two lakh. Only about 3,348 regular assistant professors are teaching in the colleges with the rest of the teaching workload being taken care of by the extension and guest lecturers. A requisition to fill 2,424 teaching posts has already been sent to the Haryana Public Service Commission.

In view of the increasing workload, especially after the implementation of the New Education Policy-2020, the extension and guest lecturers have been sending regular representations to the state government to give them some assurance on job security in the backdrop of “long years of service in government colleges”.

Some not eligible for regular recruitment

It is proposed to provide security of service to the extension and guest lecturers till the age of 58 as some of them have crossed the minimum age limit for applying for regular recruitment. — Mahipal Dhanda, Higher Education Minister

4,789 posts of assistant prof vacant

• 8,137 sanctioned posts of assistant professor in 184 government colleges
• Only 3,348 regular assistant professors to teach nearly two lakh students
• 2,016 extension lecturers and 46 guest lecturers taking care of the extra teaching workload
• A requisition to fill 2,424 teaching posts sent to the Haryana Public Service Commission