Classes packed as college teachers’ strike ends

Anahita Mukherji | TNN

Mumbai: “Though students grumble about attendance, they actually love attending for lectures,’’ said Fr Frazer Mascarenhas, principal of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai. His comment was not unfounded. On Thursday morning—the day colleges re-opened after a 44-day college and university teachers’ strike—classrooms were chock-a-block. “We were shocked to find classrooms full for the 8 am lecture,’’ he added.

Attendance was high at Jai Hind College, Churchgate, too, with students turning up in large numbers for the early morning classes.

“This feels so good. We’re so happy to be back in college,’’ said Ryan Thomas, a secondyear BA student at Wilson College, Chowpatty, who was on time for the 7.30 am lecture. “Even those who don’t usually like studying were waiting to get back to college,’’ said Thomas.

“The Mumbai University vice-chancellor will hold a meeting next week to discuss how to make up for lost time and work out the exam schedule,’’ said Fr Mascarenhas.

“We’ll only give students a four-day Diwali break. We’ll have to conduct exams during Diwali vacations,’’ said Jai Hind College principal Kirti Narain.

So was the strike worth it? “We’re happy with the outcome. We were prepared for a difficult struggle ahead of us,’’ said Madhu Paranjape, joint secretary of the Bombay University and College Teachers’ Union.

One of the demands entailed scrapping the discriminatory treatment meted out to teachers appointed between 1991-99 who had not cleared the NET/SLET exams, an entrylevel qualification that, according to the striking teachers, was not applicable at the time. The government has not conceded to this demand, but has promised to set up a committee with both government officials and members of the teachers’ union, which will approach the UGC on behalf teachers in Maharashtra who want exemption from the NET/SLET rule. “We’re not going to let this issue die down,’’ said Paranjape.

Teachers had also called for the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission salaries as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales for central government employees. The state government has agreed to give them the UGC pay package and the career advancement scheme. There will, however, be a deviation when it comes to allowances, which will be as per state government scales. Teachers who did not clear NET/SLET and were appointed between 1991-99 will also be eligible for this pay package.