The guest lecturers of government degree colleges have appealed to the State government to take a decision favouring the lecturers, who have been working for several years. They urged the government not to remove anybody citing the UGC norms.In a press conference in Shivamogga, on Thursday, Mr. Somashekhar Shimoggi, State president of the State coordination committee of the government degree college guest lecturers, said that nearly 11,000 lecturers had been working as guest faculty for several years. Among them, 5,623 were eligible to teach in degree colleges as per the UGC norms. The remaining 5,353 were not eligible. However, many among them had MPhil degree and had the experience of teaching for several years.“The guest faculty have been working for low salary that too paid only for 10 months in a year. Many of them have already crossed 50 years and are left with no opportunities to apply for other jobs. Considering their service, the government should continue them as lecturers,” he stated.Nearly 70% of the degree colleges, he said, had been depending on guest faculty for regular classes. Without them, there would be none to take classes. For the last one and half a month, the student had suffered without classes. “If the State cabinet does not take a decision favouring the guest faculty, we will hold an indefinite protest in Mysuru, native district of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,” he said.Rachappa, retired professor, speaking on behalf of the guest lecturers, said that the current imbroglio had been benefitting private colleges. The children of poor and lower middle class families who took admission to government colleges had been suffering with no classes. Many students hit the streets demanding early recruitment of lecturers. The government should consider the pleas of the guest faculty, he added.Published - September 11, 2025 07:28 pm IST