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.