UGC claims Uni. teachers given unusual pay hike

June 26, 2012, 9:54 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

The University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday said that the government had granted an unusual salary hike to university teachers and asked them to call off the strike scheduled to begin on July 04.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, UGC Chief Prof. Gamini Samaranayake said that according to revised salary structures, the salaries of senior professors, professors, assistant professors, senior lecturer grade I, senior lecturer Grade II, lecturer and probationary lecturers had been increased by 73.88 per cent, 69.73 per cent, 66.12 per cent, 61.13 per cent, 58.68 per cent, 52.39 per cent and 36.64 per cent respectively from October 12, 2012.

He said that they also increased the paper marking allowance from Rs. 20 to Rs. 100, visiting lecture fees from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500.

Addressing the same press conference, Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake said most of senior lecturers were against the scheduled strike, but others forced them to join the strike.

"According to our information, lecturers of some faculties of universities countrywide would not join the strike," he said.

The minister said even the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors too were against the scheduled strike by university teachers and had asked to solve the problems through negotiations.

Dissanayake said that the government offered them an unbelievable salary hike despite doctors and judges demanding a salary hike too.

He said that the government also provided them with a housing loan scheme.

 

Non-academic staff call off strike

June 26, 2012, 9:46 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

University non-academic staff called off their strike last night after signing an agreement with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Labour Commissioner.

Media spokesman of the Inter University Trade Union Joint Committee Wijayathilaka Jayasinghe told The Island that the UGC had promised to rectify their salary anomalies within 45 days and issue a circular to that effect.

Non-academic staff launched the strike on June 06.

UGC experts stand by their method, but honour SC decision

June 26, 2012, 9:45 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the islnd

The UGC appointed experts panel, which prepared the combined Z-score for the two syllabi, yesterday insisted that they were still of the firm belief that their decision was the most fair method for students who sat the A/L examination in 2011.

Addressing a media conference at the UGC auditorium, flanked by Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake and UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake, a member of the experts panel, Prof. Sarath Kulatunga, said that they had calculated the Z–score separately and deeply investigated it first.

"But it was more unfair to students," he said adding that it was the reason to go ahead with their second method to merge the Z–score of two syllabi.

The experts committee included Prof. K. R. M. T. Karunaratne of Sri Jayewardenepura University, Prof. Sarath Kulatunga of Kelaniya University, Prof. Sarath Peiris of Moratuwa University, Dr. Sarath Banneheka of Sri Jayewardenepura University and Dr. Dilhari Atygalle of the Colombo University.

Prof. Kulatunga said they however honoured the Supreme Court decision.

UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake said that they would implement the Supreme Court order immediately, but would have to go to the Court again for some clarifications.

The Examination Department had the authority to calculate the Z–scores and issue the results, he said.

"But the Supreme Court issued the directive to us," Prof. Samaranayake said adding they would go to Court again to clarify whether it should be done by the UGC or the Examination Department.

He said that sometimes they might have to call for applications again for university admissions, but declined to comment further.

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake said that their lawyers were now working on the matter.