Maharashtra government is going to bring down retirement age of college professors from 62 to 60 intending to give opportunities to youngsters and also reduce financial burden. The proposal will be sent before the Cabinet meeting for final approval soon. At present, only principals can get extension up to 65 years for retirement and the professors up to 62 years.
The Higher and Technical Education Department has said that the decision will reduce financial burden as five per cent of professors retired every year.
“We have prepared a proposal to bring down retirement age of professors to 60 from earlier 62. This will reduce financial burden from the government and also open up opportunities for younger lot to get into the sector of education. The proposal is awaiting nod from the Cabinet,” an official from the higher and technical education department told The Asian Age.
At present, there are over 30,000 professors in the government-aided colleges and five per cent retire every year. The professors begin their salary from Rs 50,000 and reach to Rs 1.5 lakh till the age of retirement. “There are qualified youngsters willing to join the profession and hence there is no need to keep the retirement age at 62. In case of principals, it is difficult to get qualified people and hence the age has been kept at 65,” the official added.
In 2011, Congress-NCP led government had raised retirement age of principals from 60 to 65 years and also professors from 58 to 62.
The BJP-led government has decided to make slight changes in the retirement age of professors.
According to a senior academician from the University of Mumbai, the decision is unsolicited and the government is thinking selfishly by reducing the retirement age for professors. “The senior professors provide stability to the college and also serve as guides for research studies. Many professors will be inconvenienced as they had made post-retirement plans based on the previous retiring age,” said the academician affiliated to the Bombay University and College Teachers Union.
The Higher and Technical Education department has decided to form a committee of scientists Dr Raghunath Mashelkar and Dr Anil Kakodkar to raise the standard of education and bring it on a par with global universities. The committee is expected to give suggestions on how the education system can be transformed to help it compete with international standards. They are also expected to carry out tie-ups with international universities. Confirming the development, an official from the department said initial talks with the scientists are already over and they have agreed to work on the committee.
