Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Higher Education Department on Friday issued a formal notification, extending the working hours of lecturers in government and aided non-government colleges to seven hours.
“All teachers posted in government colleges and aided non-government colleges of the state (irrespective of their actual designation), including the principal, shall henceforth perform duty for at least seven hours on every working day,” read the notification.
According to UGC guidelines, college faculty members should take a minimum of 25 classes every week and remain present for five hours a day in the college.
In the extra two hours, the lecturers are expected to take up research activities and academic development work. “ In addition to normal teaching related works, teachers are required to devote time for library, research, taking extra classes for late entrants, taking corrective classes for needy students, monitoring student attendance, assisting the college authority in teaching and non-teaching assignments,” it further said.
However, the new norm will not be applicable for guest faculties.
The department also made 75 per cent attendance mandatory for students. Students not adhering to it will not be allowed to appear in the end-term examination, the notification said adding that college authorities would monitor attendance on monthly basis and inform the parents accordingly.
