THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Jamshedpur, September 5: A delegation from the Kolhan Vocational Teachers Association met with the Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Ramdas Soren, today to discuss the pressing issues faced by vocational teachers at Kolhan University. The delegation presented a detailed memorandum outlining their concerns and sought immediate solutions.
Kolhan University’s Vocational Department, a prestigious centre offering professional courses such as BBA, BCA, MBA, B.Sc IT, and B.Ed, has been grappling with multiple challenges. The department is entirely self-financed, relying on admission fees to cover expenses, including teachers’ salaries, due to the lack of government funding.
Low honorarium, contract renewals pending
One of the key issues raised was the low honorarium for vocational teachers. Teachers at Kolhan University are paid significantly less than their counterparts in other state universities.
While institutions like Ranchi University, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, and Vinoba Bhave University offer honorariums ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹60,000, teachers at Kolhan receive far less, affecting not only their livelihood but also the quality of education provided.
Also Read- Six Naxals killed in encounter with security forces in Telangana
Additionally, contract renewals have been pending since July, leading to a halt in salary payments, further worsening the situation.
Shortage of teachers, inadequate infrastructure
The delegation, led by Amarnath Singh, President of the Kolhan Vocational Teachers’ Union, also emphasized the severe shortage of teachers and inadequate infrastructure, which are crippling the department’s ability to deliver quality education. The union expressed disappointment at the university administration’s indifference toward resolving these issues.
In a recent development, Suchitra Sinha, Jharkhand in-charge of the National Human Rights Commission and a retired IAS officer, was present at the college and discussed the teachers’ concerns with officials. She assured them of a swift resolution and recommended submitting a detailed report to the commission.
During today’s meeting, the minister assured the delegation that he would hold discussions with the Vice-Chancellors of all universities to expedite the resolution process. The union is also planning to approach the Governor to seek further intervention.
The delegation included notable members such as Prof. Swaroop Kumar Mishra (Vice President), Prof. Sandeep Kumar (Media In-charge), Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh, Prof. Mukesh Kumar, Prof. Ishwar Rao, and Prof. Subodh Kumar.
