The Communist Party of India (CPI) has urged the Puducherry government to improve the working conditions of low-paid contract teachers to avert a potential disruption in the higher education sector.

In a statement, A.M. Saleem, CPI State secretary, pointed out that 200 faculty serving as lecturers and assistant professors were engaged in the government colleges of Puducherry for the past 14 years on a “short-term contract” (STC) basis without any scope of permanency or terminal benefits. The contractual period of five months is being renewed constantly, and they are paid only for 10 months a year. Their pay is well below what is prescribed by the University Grants Commissiondespite the fact that the faculty are NET-qualified.

The administration concerned has not renewed their employment contract for the current academic period, preventing them from taking classes. As such, students of the institutions where these faculty are supposed to teach return home without attending class. Not even a single class has been held in Rajiv Gandhi College, Thavalakuppam, for the current academic year, Mr. Saleem alleged.

The STC colleges include the Indira Gandhi Arts College, Kathirkaman; Rajiv Gandhi Arts College, Thavalakuppam; Kamarajar Arts College, Kalitheerthalkuppam; Kasthurba Women’s College, Villianur; Tagore Arts College, Lawspet; Bharathidasan College for Women; Kanji Munivar Post-graduate Studies; Arignar Anna college, Karaikal; Mahatma Gandhi College, Mahe; and Dr. Radhakrishnan College, Yanam.

Aggrieved by the attitude of the Higher Education Department, the STC- based faculty had approached the Chief Minister, Education Minister, Secretary, and Director for Higher Education, but to no avail.