No full-time principals!

Team Udayavani, Mar 18, 2019, 10:41 AM IST

Government First Grade College within Mangalore University limits

Karkala: Of the 36 government degree colleges in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu district coming under Mangalore University limits, not one of the college has a full-time or Grade-1 Principal. These colleges only have interim-principals. In some colleges, recently appointed staff functions as interim-principals!

Udayashankar was the last one

The only and last full-time principal within the University’s limits was Udayashankar of Belandur Government First Degree College.  Later, he was promoted as the Joint Director of the College Education Department and retired as its Additonal Director. Post this, no one has been appointed as a full-time principal.

As if by the good luck of the students, the government has appointed guest lecturers to solve the lack of lecturers at the college. Because of this, there is no problem to lessons and lectures. For the duty of three days in a week, a salary of Rs 12,000 is being provided to them.

No financial burden

The government will face no financial burden if the professors are promoted as principals. This is so because; any professor who has worked for 30 years draws a salary of Rs 1.50 lakh. Those who become the principal will get Rs 3,000 in addition to their existing salaries.

This is the reason for the confusion

There is government discussion on whether the principal’s post must be filled based on seniority or if one should appointed for the post. As per the regulations of the UGC, a candidate with 15 years of service and has PhD (NET pass), then such a candidate may be directly appointed as a principal. Amidst this, some professors argue that selection for the post must be based on seniority.

Same situation throughout the state

This situation is not just limited to undivided Dakshina Kannada district. Of the 420 Government First Grade Degree Colleges in the state, only 36 colleges have a full-time principal.

The principals at all the 36 Government First Grade Degree Colleges within the limits of Mangaluru University are interim principals. The appointment of a full-time principal must occur on the government level, informs Dr Appaji Gowda, Joint Director, College Education Department

Article by Ramachandra Bareppadi translated into English by Aaron Dmello