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Govt. bond-violating academics given pardon on condition
Academics who violated their bonds and agreements by remaining abroad after their study leave expires will be given a pardon, a new circular issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) said.
According to the circular any academic who had not resumed duties after their study leave is over will not be disqualified from taking up new positions in any Government higher education institutions under the purview of the UGC.
“This decision was taken following a request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa” said Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, Chairperson of UGC.
“We appointed a committee to look into the matter and the decision was made on the recommendations,” she said.
However when taking up a new position they will be required to pay 25 percent of the bond value to the new institution they join. If the bond value is greater than Rs. 500,000 they will be required to pay Rs. 500,000 when assuming duties and pay the balance sum in full within one year. The academics who return to the country under these conditions will also be bonded to the new institution for the remaining 75 percent of the original bond value.
This opportunity will be available only for the next five years, Prof. Hirimburegama said.
However Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) Secretary Dr. Rohan Fernando said the UGC had not considered the suggestions made by FUTA before issuing the circular.
“We suggested that UGC should also follow the rules specified in the Government Establishments Code and not provide special provisions, but this hasn’t been done,” he said.
According to Prof. Hirimburegama a number of academics have taken this opportunity to rejoin universities especially in the North and East.
“There were a few individuals who returned to the universities in the South, as well,” she said.
Meanwhile the Higher Education Ministry has sought recommendations from professional bodies on the proposed changes to the controversial gazette notification issued on January 31.
The gazette notification amending the regulations which made compliance certification from relevant professional bodies an optional requirement for degree awarding institutes, sparked opposition from both professional bodies and academics.
The proposed amendment will make compliance certification from respective professional bodies a mandatory requirement for degree awarding institutions.
However FUTA has refused to accept the proposed amendment and demanded that both the gazette issued on January 31 and the one issued in August last year which gives the Higher Education Ministry powers to grant degree awarding status to private institutions, be repealed.
“We were told of the amendment at the meeting we had with the Higher Education Ministry Secretary and we have said if our demand is not met we would take trade union action,” FUTA General Secretary Prof. Fernando told the Sunday Times
The Sunday Times also learnt that a proposal was made by the UGC to recruit senior professors and professors on one year contracts. This is to be done only if there are specific requests from universities. The individuals recruited will be paid a fixed sum of Rs. 100,000 per month and will not be allowed to hold any posts in the university. Their services will be limited to teaching and research work.
“We are not opposed to the idea. But they should not be allowed to hold any posts. Further the UGC should also consider space allocation for these academics as currently there is a severe shortage of space in most of the universities,” Dr. Fernando told the Sunday Times.