1,500 assistant professors lose incentives

BENGALURU: It's bad news for over 1,500 assistant professors of government first grade colleges (GFGC). These assistant professors, who have acquired PhD and MPhil degrees through distance education mode and have been working since 2009 in these colleges, will not be eligible for Academic Grade Pay (AGP).
AGP is an incentive that teachers get after completing six years of service.
Once an assistant professor becomes eligible for AGP, the basic salary rises by Rs 1,000. But now, the Department of Collegiate Education (DCE), in a July 1 circular issued to principals of all government colleges, said professors will lose this incentive.
There's more. The circular also states that those who have obtained PhD and MPhil degrees from other states are not eligible to apply for teaching jobs in Karnataka from now on.
The department's decision is bound to have its effect on students too. The Karnataka Government College Teachers Association (KGCTA) has warned that if DCE does not withdraw the circular, it will boycott classes.
In 2009, Karnataka Service Public Commission (KPSC) had recruited around 2,500 assistant professors, of whom around 1,500 candidates who had obtained MPhil and PhDs via distance education mode got selected.
An assistant professor in English, who obtained MPhil via distance education, said as per the UGC circular issued in 2009 to the state government, candidates who have MPhil degrees from open universities are eligible for the post of lecturers. "Denying AGP to us is not justified," he said.
To become eligible for AGP, assistant professors have to do well in Academic Performance Indicator (API). API includes assessing assistant professors' performance in seminars, publishing of papers and other academic performances.
Another assistant professor from the arts stream said, "We have worked hard to become eligible for AGP. At the time when the incentive should have been given to us, the department has stopped it. We will intensify our protest if the department doesn't withdraw its decision."