Thousands of teachers are likely to lose their jobs in Calicut’s self-financing universities

Thousands of teachers in self-financing colleges affiliated to the University of Calicut are likely to lose their jobs as the authorities plan to make the approval of the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) or PhD mandatory for the appointment of faculty members.

A directive to this effect was issued earlier this year by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is also the chancellor of state universities. Sources in the Vice-Chancellor’s office told The Hindu on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) that the university has also issued orders to implement the UGC guidelines. The affiliation of the colleges would be canceled if the guidelines were not followed, they added. More than 250 self-financing colleges in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Wayanad districts are affiliated to the university. According to reports, 7,500 teachers may be affected.

However, organizations representing self-financing university teachers said the implementation of the directive reeked of hypocrisy. KP Abdul Azeez, state secretary, Self-Financing College Teachers and Staff Association affiliated to the Center of Indian Trade Unions, said if the authorities are so keen to enforce the UGC guidelines for teacher qualification, they should also ensure that the salaries also meet the central agency’s standards. In most universities, the situation was deplorable. Even those with qualifications were getting ₹20,000 or less as monthly salary, he alleged.

Shafi Pulppara, state president of the Congress Self-Financing College Teachers Association (SFCTA), said that when university authorities issued a similar directive in previous years, teachers’ organizations were told that talks would take place before it was implemented. “We have also demanded that sufficient time be given to acquire qualifications… There are teachers with 20 years of experience but without the required qualifications and it would be unfair to dismiss them from service,” he said.

Mr. Shafi alleged that authorities at Nilambur College in Malappuram tried to terminate the services of “unqualified” teachers. There were similar reports from Perambra and Mukkom colleges in Kozhikode. In several colleges in Palakkad, the teachers themselves have left their jobs. The trials have been shelved for the time being after teachers’ unions raised objections, he added.

Mr. Shafi also said that the university has not yet incorporated the Kerala Self-Financing College Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2021, into its constitution, which would have simplified the appointment and working conditions of teachers. Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Roji M. John reportedly promised a section of teachers that their concerns would be addressed.

Published – 04 Jun 2026 0:52 IST