TN Open University Faculty Protest Mandatory Extra Teaching Duties

Swift Summary

• Faculty members of Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) have launched an indefinite sit-in protest at the university premises.
• The protest demands the cancellation of orders by the Directorate of Collegiate Education that deputed some faculty members to teach at other colleges.
• TNOU has only 37 faculty for it’s 32 departments, compared to a sanctioned strength of 105, creating significant workload pressures.
• Seven faculty members from various departments-including Tamil, English, chemistry, and political science-have been assigned duties at Presidency College due to 44 new courses introduced for the current academic year.
• Faculty claimed this decision adds further stress as TNOU departments are already handling disproportionate workloads with single professors managing both academic and administrative tasks.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The TNOU protests highlight structural gaps in higher education staffing within India.With fewer than half the sanctioned positions filled at TNOU, assigning additional responsibilities to overstretched faculty underlines systemic inefficiencies.This situation could compromise both teaching quality and administrative functioning within affected institutions like TNOU and Presidency College. Rationalized staffing solutions are essential not only for effective functioning but also for upholding professional standards in academia. Addressing such issues aligns with broader goals of improving access and quality in India’s education system.

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