Telangana: Junior lecturers, principals of 81 minority junior colleges without pay in July

Hyderabad: Owing to low admissions in the intermediate first year, the Telangana Education Department has stopped the salaries of junior lecturers (JLs) and principals of Telangana Minorities Residential Junior Colleges (TMRJC) for July.

Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TMREIS) sent a show cause notice that said, “It is to inform you that the July 2023 salaries for all JLs and principals of 81 TMRJCs have been withheld as per secretary’s orders due to low admissions in first-year intermediate classes.”

According to the data, the state has around 204 TMRJCs. This academic year, 81 junior colleges reported less than 80 per cent of admissions. These junior colleges have 60 MPC and BiPC seats. The officials are blaming the faculty of the junior college for low admissions.

On this incident, Telangana State United Teachers’ Federation (TSUTF) submitted a representation to the secretary of TMREIS requesting the government to release their salaries.

“According to sources in the Intermediate Board, intermediate first-year admissions were very poor in all junior colleges. The number of colleges also significantly increased in the current academic year. We request you to release the salaries withheld for all the principals and JLs of 81 TMJCs immediately,” the letter read.

Significant differences in SSC pass-outs and inter admissions

Speaking to NewsMeter, TSUTF general secretary Chava Ravi said, “How is the faculty responsible for low admissions? Low admissions are seen in other junior colleges also. According to the statistics given by the Intermediate Board, there is at least a difference of one lakh in the number of SSC pass-outs and intermediate admissions.”

According to Ravi, there are chances that many minority students might join private colleges or drop out. While they are around 1,000 government and affiliated junior colleges, the number of private colleges increased to 1,200 this year.

“The new private junior colleges have good facilities, new buildings and new hostels. That would have been a reason for many parents to opt for private colleges than government residentials. The officials have indirectly asked the faculty to ask the parents of the students to get them enrolled in their colleges,” said Ravi.