PU classes disrupted as lecturers' indefinite strike enters second day

December 9, 2011

Mangalore, December 9: Classes at many pre-university colleges across coastal Karnataka and other parts of the State continued to disrupt as the indefinite strike initiated by lecturers entered second day on Friday.

The strike was called to press for the removal of disparity in their salaries and other long-pending demands.

As the colleges opened in the morning, the lecturers reported for duty and signed the attendance registers. They, however, boycotted the classes and protested against what they termed the government's “indifference” towards their problems.

On Thursday, they staged a protest in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner in Mangalore and raised slogans and deplored the government for “ignoring” their repeated pleas. The protesters demanded that their salaries be brought on a par with the degree college teachers who have the same qualification and work for the same number of hours every day.

The salaries of PU teachers remained equal to those of their counterparts in degree colleges till 1996. But when the salaries were revised twice thereafter, the pay of degree college teachers soared, but that of PU college teachers did not.

At present, a PU lecturer is paid a basic salary of Rs 11,400 plus Rs 200, whereas the Fifth Pay Commission recommended a salary of Rs 13,400. Pre-university teachers in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are paid much higher. Hence, the protesters said, they should be paid a basic salary of Rs 14,050 and principals Rs 18,150.

The protesters say that several representations were made to the government which responded only with “hollow promises”. In April 2011, the teachers had boycotted the evaluation of II?PU examinations and refused to budge unless the government accepted their demands. On April 11, the government, through an order, promised to meet the teachers' demands within 30 days. But the promise was never kept. The teachers again took to the streets last September, but remained unsuccessful.

“We are not going to be deceived by the government's tactics anymore. We won't budge till our demands are met,” said the protesters pledging to continue the protest until getting their demands fulfilled.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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