AASU Opposes Appointment of Retired Teachers in Assam's Model Colleges

AASU's Stance on Teacher Appointments

Guwahati, Aug 17: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) has voiced strong objections against the state government's initiative to hire retired educators for the newly established model colleges in Assam.

This position was articulated during a special gathering with nine state-level teachers' organizations held at a hotel in the city on Sunday.

AASU president Utpal Sarma stated, “The government should retract its decision to appoint retired teachers in model colleges. If necessary, they could serve as mentors or visiting faculty, but not in full-time teaching roles.”

Sarma emphasized the importance of prioritizing qualified youth for these positions. He remarked, “Teachers with 8–10 years of experience are equally capable. The government should establish Assistant Professor roles in these institutions and hire qualified unemployed youth instead.”

The student organization reiterated that employing retired teachers is “unfair” and denies numerous educated unemployed individuals the chance to secure jobs.

They urged the government to open opportunities for the younger generation rather than “closing the doors on them.”

Additionally, the Union called for new hires to receive permanent positions with salaries aligned with UGC standards, rather than being subjected to a three-year probationary period.

They also requested the appointment of dedicated academic officers for IQAC and NAAC-related responsibilities in the colleges.

AASU general secretary Samiran Phukan mentioned that all resolutions made during the meeting would be officially presented to the state government.

The decision to implement a hybrid staffing model in the newly planned Adarsh Mahavidyalayas was revealed by Education Minister Ranoj Pegu on July 21.

According to the Minister, this model will consist of retired educators and professors, with the other half being newly recruited faculty members.

During the announcement, Pegu noted that the retired faculty members, appointed for a duration of three to four years, would provide leadership and foundational support during the initial stages of these colleges.