A reasonable man could not fully agree with arguments in favour of implementing of UGC pay package for College teachers of Kerala. This is because hiking retirement age and subsequent utilization of fund obtained from UGC for other purpose would adversely affect many youngsters waiting for a teaching job. The present teachers of the colleges are misleadingly availing advantage of the opportunity in the State that is created by the acute financial crunch that may be resulted from the mass retirement of employees on March 31. Thuglak model retirement age unification in the State last year has created unforeseen complexity in employment and financial sectors. The teachers argue that the academic excellence will be towering if they continue further for a period of five years in the college. The Finance minister dreams that Rs. 2000 crore received from UGC for the salary hike of the college teachers can be gainfully used for the payout of pension benefits of retiring state employees on March 31. My request to the college teachers is that they should never push qualified youths to total despair. All teachers who have completed 55 years of age should so decide to relinquish their post without trying to stick to it by hook or crook. They should help to open opportunities to the new age group.
The argument that qualified applicants for the post of college teachers are inadequate in the State is totally absurd. The interviews conducted of late in many colleges proved that there are excess candidates with NET and Ph.D. Instance of dozens of candidates appearing for interview for a single post in many colleges has been reported of late. The criterion on which a particular candidate is selected is unknown to all other candidates who are not successful in the interview. The selected candidate should never reveal the secret of his or her success and if anyone needs the secret of this appointment, a ‘narco analysis ‘is to be conducted on the selected candidate. Recently for a single post appointment in an Ernakalam college the interview was conducted at a speed of making ‘thattukada dosa’ as the government nominee was very busy in finishing her work in the college. More interesting is the way in which the applicants were dealt with the college authorities. No receipt has been issued by the college authority for Rs 500 received as application money. The repeated statement from some corners that opportunities in colleges are in plenty is only a maneuver to hoodwink candidates who spent quite a sum as application money for appearing in the interviews.
UGC stipulation for retirement age of college teachers is 65. But Kerala education minister says here it has been decided to fix at 58 because of special circumstances existing in the state. This singularity will never disappear even if the retirement age is brought to 50. Another whimper in this direction is that qualified candidates are not available for college teaching. I want to know how the present college teachers who entered into service by licking the legs of college managers and paying several lakhs as donation, became so efficient now. These people who refuse to retire now, are really a stumbling block before the unemployed educated youngsters. If these persons are appointed as managers of Beverages Corporation, the customers will, of course, get better brands. It may be true that the guest lecturers are handicaps for the improved functioning of the college because they are removed occasionally. But they are the people who teach two alphabets to the students when the permanent teachers are out of the college with their extracurricular activities.
There is also an argument in favour of the existing teachers that if they are retained in the college for another five years only then smooth implementation of the credit and semester system is possible. This argument is absolutely false as C and S system is not an elephantine task. The young recruits will soon catch up the details relating the system and they implement it more effectively than the MA second class tailor made self proclaimed professors.
Many people now admit that the retirement age unification was a thoughtless act and in order to meet the financial requirement of next March 31, the Government is trying to hike retirement age college teachers and thereby to divert the UGC fund. The government is not able use this fund to create any fresh job opportunity in the State. If Kerala Government follow the TN model of implementation of UGC package, all teachers will get its benefit without hiking the retirement age. The NET and Ph D qualified candidates will thus get an opportunity to fulfill their aspiration without any loss to existing teachers. It is not one but two families are then protected if a fresh appointment is done in colleges. I hope the government will think more wisely in this direction.
K A Solaman
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Don’t push them into disaster
Long life span of 78 years is the applicable reason for Kerala College teachers to enhance their retirement age. Do they need to bring down the life expectancy to 48 years by pushing down unemployed educated youngsters to total despair and subsequent self destruction due to joblessness?
K A Solaman
K A Solaman
Monday, February 22, 2010
Road ahead -The Telegraph
Road ahead
I have been living in Kerala for the last several years and keeping a close watch on National Highway 47. The highway has changed a lot in the last few years. Today, it is more a place for commuters and vendors than for vehicles. Innumerable fish and meat vendors occupy the waysides. They and their customers have turned the highway into a busy marketplace, which stinks to high heaven, thanks to the decaying fish and meat. The wastes piled by the roadsides attract stray dogs. Often, the dogs get killed and drivers meet with accidents trying to avoid the dogs coming in the way of their vehicles.
The highway has become more dangerous after it was dug up for laying water-supply lines and optical fibre cables. The owners of cranes make good profit by lifting the heavy vehicles that land up in the huge craters created by the workers. When one drives along this highway of potholes, one is assaulted with the sight of scattered garbage, open drains, muddled traffic, dirty vendors and food corporation outlets, whose queues extend several metres into the road.
It is dangerous to drive a vehicle on any of Kerala’s roads. The state spends huge sums on road repair, but only about 40 per cent of the amount spent gets reflected in the work done.
Recently, ‘newspaper technology’ has been adopted in Kerala for repairing roads. The workers fill potholes with metal or sand and then cover them with newspapers dipped in coal tar. This patchwork hardly lasts for a week, and then the team is ready with a fresh bundle of old newspapers for starting another bout of work at the same spot. Road repair has thus become a never-ending process, siphoning off huge sums of money from the State exchequer.
But I would like to know whether India has applied for a patent for its newspaper technology used in road repair. For all we know, America or Japan might be interested in this.
K.A. Solaman, The Telegraph, Calcutta, dated 23 Feb 2010
I have been living in Kerala for the last several years and keeping a close watch on National Highway 47. The highway has changed a lot in the last few years. Today, it is more a place for commuters and vendors than for vehicles. Innumerable fish and meat vendors occupy the waysides. They and their customers have turned the highway into a busy marketplace, which stinks to high heaven, thanks to the decaying fish and meat. The wastes piled by the roadsides attract stray dogs. Often, the dogs get killed and drivers meet with accidents trying to avoid the dogs coming in the way of their vehicles.
The highway has become more dangerous after it was dug up for laying water-supply lines and optical fibre cables. The owners of cranes make good profit by lifting the heavy vehicles that land up in the huge craters created by the workers. When one drives along this highway of potholes, one is assaulted with the sight of scattered garbage, open drains, muddled traffic, dirty vendors and food corporation outlets, whose queues extend several metres into the road.
It is dangerous to drive a vehicle on any of Kerala’s roads. The state spends huge sums on road repair, but only about 40 per cent of the amount spent gets reflected in the work done.
Recently, ‘newspaper technology’ has been adopted in Kerala for repairing roads. The workers fill potholes with metal or sand and then cover them with newspapers dipped in coal tar. This patchwork hardly lasts for a week, and then the team is ready with a fresh bundle of old newspapers for starting another bout of work at the same spot. Road repair has thus become a never-ending process, siphoning off huge sums of money from the State exchequer.
But I would like to know whether India has applied for a patent for its newspaper technology used in road repair. For all we know, America or Japan might be interested in this.
K.A. Solaman, The Telegraph, Calcutta, dated 23 Feb 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Non-sense behind academic excellence
One wonders why the LDF government so decided to hold further talks regarding the hike of retirement age of college teachers when thousands of qualified youngsters are waiting for job outside. Are the teachers, the second class Master’s degree holders of the colleges who entered into service by tonguing the feet of some unscrupulous College managers, are going to make academic excellence of Private Colleges in Kerala? There is no need to open talks again to hold these guys in colleges. Give their pension dues soon and throw them out of the colleges. If the present government is unable to find money for the same then exit from State Governance and hand over the power to persons who able to pay back the benefits of retiring teachers.
The CPI, the RSP and their youth wings should be congratulated for their bold steps in this regard; nevertheless, the senior leaders of both parties have the dubious history backtracking from the original stance in many issues. The unemployed youngsters still keep firm faith in the walk and talk of the youth wings.
Mr. Baby, the Education minister, seeks the LDF committee approval for enhancing the retirement age of college teachers to 58 years and that of university teachers to 62 years. How he could argue like this when the UGC proposal is for 65 years? He may then say about a particular situation prevailing in the State. This situation had been there in 1995 too and that was why the retirement age was fixed 55 then. The same unemployment situation has much augmented now and hence the argument for 58 years of age is unwarranted and baseless. The fear of losing Rs 2000 core UGC assistance for not taking decision before March 31 is not a matter of concern of unemployed youths when they are in complete desolation.
It is wonderful to see why Kerala alone must go in for hike in the retirement age of college teachers when States such as Tamil Nadu had implemented the UGC scheme without doing so. Are there no college teachers in TN who are able to make academic excellence like their counterparts in Kerala? One hopes that the panel discussing the matter should never take a decision curtailing the aspirations of qualified youngsters.
K A Solaman
The CPI, the RSP and their youth wings should be congratulated for their bold steps in this regard; nevertheless, the senior leaders of both parties have the dubious history backtracking from the original stance in many issues. The unemployed youngsters still keep firm faith in the walk and talk of the youth wings.
Mr. Baby, the Education minister, seeks the LDF committee approval for enhancing the retirement age of college teachers to 58 years and that of university teachers to 62 years. How he could argue like this when the UGC proposal is for 65 years? He may then say about a particular situation prevailing in the State. This situation had been there in 1995 too and that was why the retirement age was fixed 55 then. The same unemployment situation has much augmented now and hence the argument for 58 years of age is unwarranted and baseless. The fear of losing Rs 2000 core UGC assistance for not taking decision before March 31 is not a matter of concern of unemployed youths when they are in complete desolation.
It is wonderful to see why Kerala alone must go in for hike in the retirement age of college teachers when States such as Tamil Nadu had implemented the UGC scheme without doing so. Are there no college teachers in TN who are able to make academic excellence like their counterparts in Kerala? One hopes that the panel discussing the matter should never take a decision curtailing the aspirations of qualified youngsters.
K A Solaman
Don’t go the Kerala way
The Council for Board of Secondary Education’s decision to have a core curriculum in science and mathematics for classes XI-XII across all boards in the country from 2011 and to introduce a single national-level entrance examination for students from all streams for entry into higher education from 2013 will ensure a level playing field for students to compete and save them the trouble of giving multiple entrance tests.
Union Human Resource Development Minster Kapil Sibal’s restructuring of entrance examinations is a good beginning but I do not endorse his diluting of the education process by abandoning the examination system at class X level. A little dose of occasional stress is very necessary for every individual to excel in life.
Mr Sibal has taken a bold step but it should not be a meagre replication of the Kerala education model which has abjectly failed.
KA Solaman,Alappuzha
The Pioneer, New Delhi, dated 19 Feb 2010
Union Human Resource Development Minster Kapil Sibal’s restructuring of entrance examinations is a good beginning but I do not endorse his diluting of the education process by abandoning the examination system at class X level. A little dose of occasional stress is very necessary for every individual to excel in life.
Mr Sibal has taken a bold step but it should not be a meagre replication of the Kerala education model which has abjectly failed.
KA Solaman,Alappuzha
The Pioneer, New Delhi, dated 19 Feb 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Single entrance test is a good beginning
Multiplicity of entrance tests is a heavy load to students and their parents. The testing agencies levy a huge sum from them by way of conducting different tests at various centres in India. . Union HRD Minster Kapil Sibal’s restructuring of entrance examination is a good beginning but I could not endorse his diluting of education process by abandoning examination system. Class X and class XII examinations are must for students to take their study seriously. A small dose of occasional stress is very necessary for every individual to excel in life. What is the fun in promoting all the students to class XII and put them in utter despair by not allowing them to qualify in the entrance test for Engineering or medical degree?
The proposal to make uniform science and mathematics curriculum is not a new one as in CBSE and in many of the State Curriculum NCERT pattern is accepted. Truly speaking ISC texts and course materials are seen more good than NCERT study materials. Though the NCERT claim that their study materials are of the same standard as that followed in institutions in western countries, I would say these materials rather make revulsion in most of the Indian students. If the decision is for a core curriculum, then it should be suited to the Indian students and not for westerners.
While welcoming the new single entrance test ensuring admission to all engineering and medical courses, what I have to suggest is the need for single admission test for all jobs of the same category. For instance, in all management schools and colleges in the country the job admission test or interview is done erratically causing financial loss and stress to candidates. For instance, consider the case of candidate with Net and PhD seeking a job opportunity in private or government colleges in Kerala. Application fee is alone around Rs500 and a candidate has to pay Rs 100000 to attend the interviews alone in 200 odd colleges in addition to travel and stay expense. Is there any possible solution for this never-ending misery? A common entrance test for job aspirants is also a must in this circumstance.
Serious effort to improve the study atmosphere in schools and colleges is also very significant. The laboratory works should be given due recognition and the valuation should be done seriously. The Kerala model of 100 percent marks for non-sense writing in the examination should be stopped. When a study material is given and asked to study question should be within that study material. No examination should be conducted to exhibit the ‘vast’ knowledge of the question setter. The reasoning and other abilities will be gained by students in their future life. Moreover, in the proposed syllabus science symbols and terms should be given in English itself. The students should not be strained to study all the translations of science subject in their later classes.
Really, what Mr Kapil Sibal has taken is a bold decision but it should not be a meager replication of the Kerala crafted education model.
K A Solaman
The proposal to make uniform science and mathematics curriculum is not a new one as in CBSE and in many of the State Curriculum NCERT pattern is accepted. Truly speaking ISC texts and course materials are seen more good than NCERT study materials. Though the NCERT claim that their study materials are of the same standard as that followed in institutions in western countries, I would say these materials rather make revulsion in most of the Indian students. If the decision is for a core curriculum, then it should be suited to the Indian students and not for westerners.
While welcoming the new single entrance test ensuring admission to all engineering and medical courses, what I have to suggest is the need for single admission test for all jobs of the same category. For instance, in all management schools and colleges in the country the job admission test or interview is done erratically causing financial loss and stress to candidates. For instance, consider the case of candidate with Net and PhD seeking a job opportunity in private or government colleges in Kerala. Application fee is alone around Rs500 and a candidate has to pay Rs 100000 to attend the interviews alone in 200 odd colleges in addition to travel and stay expense. Is there any possible solution for this never-ending misery? A common entrance test for job aspirants is also a must in this circumstance.
Serious effort to improve the study atmosphere in schools and colleges is also very significant. The laboratory works should be given due recognition and the valuation should be done seriously. The Kerala model of 100 percent marks for non-sense writing in the examination should be stopped. When a study material is given and asked to study question should be within that study material. No examination should be conducted to exhibit the ‘vast’ knowledge of the question setter. The reasoning and other abilities will be gained by students in their future life. Moreover, in the proposed syllabus science symbols and terms should be given in English itself. The students should not be strained to study all the translations of science subject in their later classes.
Really, what Mr Kapil Sibal has taken is a bold decision but it should not be a meager replication of the Kerala crafted education model.
K A Solaman
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Girish Puthenchery
Girish Puthenchery who departed us on Wednesday, was a gleaming lyricist, the next to great Vayalar Ramavarma. This I say not ignoring the contributions of ONV,P Bhaskaran, Sreekumaran Thampi, Kaithapram or Bichu Thirumala. His knowledge in Malayalam lingo is far beyond any reckon and his ability to compose instantaneous songs is admirable. He is a man of good personal relationships too. He motivated a good many of young lyricists and his death is an irreparable loss to the world of Malayalam film songs.
K A Solaman
K A Solaman
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Dirty NH 47 of Kerala
I live in Kerala for the last several years and have a close watch on the NH 47.
This high way and its sides have changed a lot and it is now a place for commuters and vendors and not for vehicles. This is especially evident when we have a look at the innumerable fish vendors one either side of this highway. The vendors cut fish, meat and sell them to commuters and thus road sides have become very busy. The waste material is put on road side itself and stray dogs gathering there make the situation worse. In every day a dog is killed at one selling spot on an average and the upheaval created is beyond any reckon. Vehicle drivers often meet with accident because of the hit and miss running of the stray dogs. These are all happening because of the State’s neglect of protecting market places for selling fish, vegetables and essential commodities. The NH 47 sides are very busy with sellers and buyers and the whole area smell of decayed fish and meat waste..
A huge amount of digging work for Japan water supply scheme and optical fibre cables carried out at highway side made the road more dangerous. The owners of crane and JCB make a good profit by undertaking the work of lifting heavy vehicles trapped in huge potholes created by water pipe workers. When one drives on this busy highway of potholes, he could see the filth in the sides, scattered garbage, open drains, muddled traffic, dirty vendor spots and Beverages corporation outlets with queues extending to several metres into the road. I could not understand why the indifference from the Panchayat/ Municipality/City Corporation in providing basic facilities in what should be the most significant part State’s development.
By and large, I think the Local Self Government of Kerala is interested only in impractical matters like plastic ban, mosquito census and other silly matters and they are unable to see the terrible state of uncleanness of State Highways. They are obviously incapable of comprehending the vision of our forefathers who kept the street clean by marking separate spots of selling, buying, playing and other activities. And for them highways are meant not for dwelling but for vehicle traffic only.
K A Solaman
This high way and its sides have changed a lot and it is now a place for commuters and vendors and not for vehicles. This is especially evident when we have a look at the innumerable fish vendors one either side of this highway. The vendors cut fish, meat and sell them to commuters and thus road sides have become very busy. The waste material is put on road side itself and stray dogs gathering there make the situation worse. In every day a dog is killed at one selling spot on an average and the upheaval created is beyond any reckon. Vehicle drivers often meet with accident because of the hit and miss running of the stray dogs. These are all happening because of the State’s neglect of protecting market places for selling fish, vegetables and essential commodities. The NH 47 sides are very busy with sellers and buyers and the whole area smell of decayed fish and meat waste..
A huge amount of digging work for Japan water supply scheme and optical fibre cables carried out at highway side made the road more dangerous. The owners of crane and JCB make a good profit by undertaking the work of lifting heavy vehicles trapped in huge potholes created by water pipe workers. When one drives on this busy highway of potholes, he could see the filth in the sides, scattered garbage, open drains, muddled traffic, dirty vendor spots and Beverages corporation outlets with queues extending to several metres into the road. I could not understand why the indifference from the Panchayat/ Municipality/City Corporation in providing basic facilities in what should be the most significant part State’s development.
By and large, I think the Local Self Government of Kerala is interested only in impractical matters like plastic ban, mosquito census and other silly matters and they are unable to see the terrible state of uncleanness of State Highways. They are obviously incapable of comprehending the vision of our forefathers who kept the street clean by marking separate spots of selling, buying, playing and other activities. And for them highways are meant not for dwelling but for vehicle traffic only.
K A Solaman
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
College teachers want to retire never?
Though Kerala Finance Minister Dr T M Thomas Isaac is known as an economist he is not a good Finance Minister. All the ‘innovative’ schemes worked out by him during last three years turned into utter slumps. For instance, look at the VAT lottery invented by him. A gold merchant asked me ‘what is it’ when I demanded the same after purchasing eight gram of gold. Except the initial takers of VAT lottery none is bothered about it now. The VAT lottery met with a natural death. His modernizing of check posts did not yield any good result instead the price of many essential commodities sky rocketed in the state due the deadlock in check posts. His plan for selling river sand from some places did not materialize despite huge loss as initial investment. His unification of retirement age has brought utter confusion among state employees and many employees are in a desperate bid to retrieve their lost benefit and promotion. His plan to invite educated youths sell Kerala daily lotteries is a damp squib as it as an unproductive and unscientific scheme invented to hoodwink them and against the true spirit of the State. How could a reasonable person equate educated youths to those helpless ones who are in frantic submission to meet the both ends by selling lottery? Remember, lottery ticket is purchased often not because of urgency but of mercy to the seller. An educated youth does not demand such a pity.
The most excruciating is his anxious proposition to get Rs 2000 Crore of central fund for implementing the UGC package for college teachers in Kerala. He confuses people with argument that this money would be lost if it is not being implemented before 31st March. This is quite absurd as there is no such stipulation in UGC package and it has been proved by the TN Government. Mr Isaac pretends to be unaware of the fact that thousands of unemployed youths with qualification like NET and Ph D are wandering in and around the State in search of a job. They have decided to hold a sit-in strike in front of the State Secretariat. The report of Malayalee youths committed suicide in Hyderabad and elsewhere are not a matter of deliberation for Isaac and coterie. Instead they resort to ulterior means to beat those sensible people who agitate for the cause of unemployed youths.
The deportment by the Youth Congress and AIYF against the obstinate attitude of Isaac and his well wishers is praiseworthy as they realized the unemployment situation in the State and at the same the posture of DYFI towards educated youths comes out quite dubious. The remark of Youth Congress President that a few Marxist leaders have to protect some of their relatives who retires on 31st March, 2010 seems significant.
UGC says it is at 65 for college teachers to retire then how could the Finance minister say to about 60? If he identifies any special circumstance that exists in the state then why he opts 60? The particular situation prevailing in the state urgently needs to implement the UGC package without extending the pension age from 55. If so it is highly helpful not only to the family of the retiree but also to the family of a new recruit of better knowledge and better qualification. The financial package to a pensioner is no too bad under UGC scheme. Then why the College teachers refuse to retire at 55?
K A Solaman
The most excruciating is his anxious proposition to get Rs 2000 Crore of central fund for implementing the UGC package for college teachers in Kerala. He confuses people with argument that this money would be lost if it is not being implemented before 31st March. This is quite absurd as there is no such stipulation in UGC package and it has been proved by the TN Government. Mr Isaac pretends to be unaware of the fact that thousands of unemployed youths with qualification like NET and Ph D are wandering in and around the State in search of a job. They have decided to hold a sit-in strike in front of the State Secretariat. The report of Malayalee youths committed suicide in Hyderabad and elsewhere are not a matter of deliberation for Isaac and coterie. Instead they resort to ulterior means to beat those sensible people who agitate for the cause of unemployed youths.
The deportment by the Youth Congress and AIYF against the obstinate attitude of Isaac and his well wishers is praiseworthy as they realized the unemployment situation in the State and at the same the posture of DYFI towards educated youths comes out quite dubious. The remark of Youth Congress President that a few Marxist leaders have to protect some of their relatives who retires on 31st March, 2010 seems significant.
UGC says it is at 65 for college teachers to retire then how could the Finance minister say to about 60? If he identifies any special circumstance that exists in the state then why he opts 60? The particular situation prevailing in the state urgently needs to implement the UGC package without extending the pension age from 55. If so it is highly helpful not only to the family of the retiree but also to the family of a new recruit of better knowledge and better qualification. The financial package to a pensioner is no too bad under UGC scheme. Then why the College teachers refuse to retire at 55?
K A Solaman
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