University teachers union to fight circular

The Chairman of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri says that the members of his union submitted letters of resignations from the volunteer posts to the Vice Chancellors of the respective universities.

Accordingly, the FUTA members have resigned from posts such as department head, senior students’ counsel, students’ counsel, course coordinator, and the senior treasurer of students’ unions.

Devasiri pointed out that the University Grants’ Commission had issued a circular directing the Vice Chancellors to fill the vacated positions with other teachers.

He argued that the circular to fill the vacancies of volunteer positions was illegal and vowed to take legal action against it.  The University Grants’ Commission (UGC) has informed administrative boards of all universities to make new appointments for academic posts currently vacated by the lecturers who have handed in resignations.

The UGC has stressed that although the resignations have been handed-in, the teachers are required to carry out their assigned duties until the resignations are accepted by the administration. (www.colombopage.com)