Government should give up the move to raise the retirement age of college teachers

It has been reported that State committee of the Left Democratic Front is likely to raise the retirement age of teachers in arts and science, medical and engineering colleges in Kerala. The decision, if taken, would bring serious repercussion in the society. The losing around Rs.500 crore in assistance from the University Grants Commission seems more serious for the LDF than killing the hope of unemployed educated youths in the state waiting for job.

The State government’s plan is to raise the retirement age to 60 years as against the 65 years stipulated by the UGC. However, the LDF government does not wish to hook the retirement age beyond 60 years in view of the political implications. What are those political implications? The same political proposition exists when age is raised to 60 from 55. Those people who once fixed retirement age at 55 were not fools. They did know the unemployment situation in the state and seemingly it augmented now. It is unwise for the government to take consolation from the fact that Maharashtra and a few other State governments, which have already implemented the UGC scheme, have chosen to peg the retirement age of their college teachers at 60 years. The situation in Maharashtra is entirely different from Kerala. It is from Kerala people go to Maharashrtra for a job and not from there to Kerala.

It is mainly Finance Minister Isaac’s move to please his friends now in colleges.
The teachers at present in Government and aided colleges in Kerala are, I say, of low profile and they were recruited in 1980-83 period when shift system was introduced in colleges. Most of them with left political orientation for knowing themselves as ‘intellectuals’ corner the minister Thomas Isaac and in that respect Education Minister M A Baby comes only next to him. The move to enhance retirement age hike thus gathered momentum.


The Economic survey conducted in last March revealed that the unemployment rate in the state is high and a few millions of people of the State have been working outside it for many years. Had they remained in Kerala, the unemployment rate would have been much higher than what was quoted in the survey. It is not the education system that make people frustrated but the inefficiency of the rulers of the state. The educated youths with Ph D and other degrees are disturbed and that dissatisfaction will be augmented by the thoughtless decision of Kerala ministers.

It is a fact in Kerala no industrialist wants to set up any industry due to labour problems. The State is bankrupt, besides being corrupt and largely politicized. The main source of income for the state is the infamous public begging –the Kerala lottery and by coluorful ads in dailies and channels the Government invites educated youths to join the lottery market. They have no job to offer for teaching in colleges or elsewhere. It is reserved for the handful of luckiest paltry chaps with PG second class. The Left trade unionism among college teachers brought them luck but misery to educated youths.

The ministers of Kerala have a thought that though they are 60 plus or eighty, still are able to walk, jump and exercise. So why can’t the existing college teachers do the same? Dear ministers, ask the college teachers to retire and try a hand in politics to serve the society further. There are many with service in aided colleges doing work at college and also doing societal both yielding no result.

The monthly salary that may be given to a college teacher for the extended period of time can be used for giving monthly pension of the pensioner and also the salary of two new recruits. The new one, being better educated and skilled, could make better results in colleges than those old folks who never want to retire. Time has reached for youths to demand their chunk of job. The Youth Congress, The AISF, Youth Front etc are seen coming against the proposed draconian decision of the LDF and it is good for them. Instead of migrating to other States for jobs, the youth should use their might to make the government understanding their need. Retirement age hike does not save any one but saves two families if a person is given an employment. Why the “poor man’s government” is not thinking in that direction?

It is a pity for the government to allow research degree holders to take the job of lottery ticket seller or Electronics and Communication engineering post graduate to accept the job of a last grade to earn a living. While thousands of students in colleges and universities suffer because of the shortage and inefficiency of the existing teaching staff it is very callous on the part of the government to not appoint any fresh candidate from existing nine PSC lists and other four that are short listed.
So the government should give up the move to raise the retirement age of college teachers including those in medical colleges.

K A Solaman