The Registered Unaided Private Schools Association, Karnataka has written to the principal secretary, department of school education and literacy seeking that the withheld salaries of lecturers at aided PU colleges be disbursed immediately.

The association has claimed that salaries of several lecturers working in aided colleges have not been paid for the past two months and that a lack of sufficient admissions has been cited as the reason for the same.

In an official communication made by the director of the department of pre-university education, Karnataka, a show cause notice was shot off to private aided colleges with insufficient admissions seeking an explanation on why funds must be given to them.

According to Lokesh T, president of RUPSA, aided PU colleges must show an enrollment of atleast 40 students each per class failing which their affiliations would also not be renewed.

In one such letter to Uma Pragathi PU Arts and Commerce College, Tumakuru by the deputy director of the department seeks to know why the director of the department of school education (PU) should not be recommended to stop funds given to them.

Thalikatte alleged that the salaries of teachers have been withheld in the wake of these show cause notices issued to PU colleges seeking an explanation.

The PU department has asked aided PU colleges in the state whose admissions into each individual course or a given class reduces below the prescribed number for three consecutive years to stop further admissions for the upcoming academic years.

“The department officials are finding insufficient admissions as a reason for withholding salaries of lecturers rather than going to the root cause of the issue and improving the quality of education there. The vacancies in aided PU colleges have not been filled since 2015. In several colleges, lecturers themselves are utilizing existing funds or their salaries and making temporary appointments for part time lecturers. Rather than ensuring that there are 40 students in each class, if the quality of education is boosted here employing scientific methods, the admissions are bound to improve. Not paying salaries to lecturers is unfair for them,” said Lokesh. 

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