Starting this month, salaries of professors of Mumbai University will be linked to their biometric attendance data and will take into account their fixed working hours. The varsity has issued a circular regarding this with a definition of expected workload – 40 hours a week, of which 16 hours is for teaching – as specified in the seventh pay commission, along with code of professional ethics for teachers.
Even as biometric attendance has been in practice at Mumbai University for some time now, the circular has startled many faculty members as until September 2024, it only counted attendance but work hours were not necessarily measured to issue salary. But from October, professors are advised to meet the target of expected working hours, as specified in the seventh pay commission.
Reiterating the definition of workload, the circular dated September 26, signed by Registrar of varsity, Dr. Prasad Karande, states, “The workload of the teachers in full employment should not be less than 40 hours a week for 30 working weeks (180 teaching days) in an academic year. It should be necessary for the teacher to be available for at least 5 hours daily at the University. A relaxation of 2 hours in the workload may, however, be given to professors who are actively involved in extension of activities and administration. A minimum of 6 hours per week may be allocated for research activities of teachers.” Out of 40 hours a week for any teacher, teaching hours will be – 16 hours for assistant professors and 14 hours for associate professors and professors.
Some teachers, however, have alleged that this is an arm-twisting tactic by the varsity administration as workload and ethics have already been explained and norms have been followed. “It is funny how all the expectations to abide by rules are from teachers. Whereas the varsity administration has conveniently failed to provide adequate manpower to maintain prescribed student:teacher ratio,” said a professor to which another added, “Due to less number of teachers, many are already working more than the prescribed hours.”
President of Bombay University and College Teachers Union (BUCTU), Dr. G B Raje, said, “The administration wants to instil fear among teachers by issuing such circulars without realising the challenges they face.”
Registrar of the university Dr. Karande was unavailable to comment even after several attempts to reach him.
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