Thousands of teachers likely to lose jobs in Calicut varsity’s self-financing colleges

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

A directive to this effect was issued by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is also the Chancellor of State Universities, earlier this year. Sources in the Vice-Chancellor’s office said: Hindu On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the university reportedly also issued instructions to implement the UGC guidelines. He added that if the guidelines are not followed, the colleges’ affiliations will be cancelled. More than 250 self-financing colleges spread across Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Wayanad districts are affiliated to the university. According to reports, 7,500 teachers may be affected.

But organizations representing self-financing university teachers said the implementation of the directive smacked of hypocrisy. KP Abdul Azeez, State joint secretary of the Self-Financing Association of University Teachers and Staff, affiliated with the Center for Indian Trade Unions, said if authorities are so keen on implementing UGC guidelines on qualifications of teachers, they should also ensure that salaries meet the standards of the Central body. The situation in most universities was deplorable. He claimed that even those who are qualified receive ₹20,000 or less as monthly salary.

Shafi Pulppara, State President of the Congress-affiliated Self-Financing College Teachers Association (SFCTA), said that when a similar directive was issued by the university authorities in previous years, teachers’ organizations were told that discussions would be held before implementing the directive. “We had also requested that sufficient time be provided to acquire qualifications… There are teachers who have 20 years of experience but do not have the necessary qualifications and it would be unfair to dismiss them,” he said.

Mr. Shafi alleged that attempts were being made by the authorities to terminate the services of “unqualified” teachers at a college in Nilambur, Malappuram. There were similar reports from colleges in Perambra and Mukkom in Kozhikode. In several colleges in Palakkad, teachers themselves quit their jobs. He added that the initiatives have been suspended for now due to the objection of teachers’ unions.

Mr. Shafi also said that the university is yet to incorporate the Kerala Self-Financing University Teaching and Non-Teaching Employees (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Act, passed by the Assembly in 2021, into its legislation and has not streamlined the appointment and conditions of service of teachers. Meanwhile, Minister of Higher Education Roji M. John reportedly promised some of the teachers that their concerns would be addressed.