NIEPA meet to discuss issue of re-employing retired teachers

NEW DELHI: It is only a seminar. But the teachers are alleging that it is an ``underhand'''' move by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to do away with the provision of re-employment of teachers after retirement. The commission on the other hand rubbishes this and says that the seminar has no ulterior motives. The one-day national seminar is being organised by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) at the initiative of the UGC, and proposes to discuss ``Re-employment of teachers after retirement at the age of 60/62 years in the universities and colleges''''.The main objective of the meet is to seemingly understand ``The State of the Art'''' situation of re-employment after retirement and its outcomes. The sore point with the teachers is that the majority of educationists invited are from the state set-up, where there is no re-employment. Said Delhi University Teachers'' Association president S S Rathi: ``The fact that they have invited people from universities where there is no re-employment shows that they want to get around the issue by formulating recommendations not in favour of re-employment,'''' he added. Among those invited are chairman, vice-chairman of the state council for higher education, vice-chancellors and pro-vice chancellors of universities. ``Re-employment is being given on the recommendation of the Pay Commission and is part of the pay package. The UGC has no right to tinker with it. Like other provisions, they want to take this away too.'''' UGC vice-chairman Arun Nigvekar said: ``We will discuss all aspects of the issue.'''' NIEPA director B P Khandelwal added: ``It is only a professional activity and we are inviting all those functioning in the system. The idea is to discuss the service conditions and to know everyone''s opinions about extension after retirement.'''' The retirement age of teachers which was 60 with an extension of five years was raised to 62 with an extension of three years after the Fifth Pay Commission in 1998. The UGC, alleged another DU teacher, has been trying to do away with the provision. ``About five to six years back, UGC wanted to do away with the provision completely. In February 2000, it placed another proposal for extension to only one-third teachers on its agenda.'''' The commission had to withdraw the proposal after a massive demonstration by the teachers. Jamia Teachers'' Association president S Inayat Zaidi said: ``The idea behind the one-third extension proposal was that extension be granted to only extraordinary teachers.'''' But he added, this discrimination would have been extremely difficult. ``The UGC is trying to put up a situation which will automatically put an end to the scheme. If a teacher is in good health and competent to teach till 62, he can''t be suddenly declared incompetent,'''' added Zaidi.