MADURAI: The idea mooted by Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr.J.Kumar to try for working timings of 8.30 am to 4.30 pm for varsity staff has been strongly objected by teaching and non-teaching staff because “this proposal do not suit university functioning style and there are lot of apprehensions”.
“Our VC has said this in HODs meeting of our university about 20 days back. But there was no one to support his idea to change university working timings because what is being done in a college will not suit for our university. The Heads of Department could not convey directly about their objections to the Vice-Chancellor. But no one supported his proposal in that meeting and hence it is now put on hold,” university sources told ‘LotusTimes’ news website in Madurai on November 9th 2022.
It was learnt that the university staff from all levels are against this VC-proposed timings of working hours from 8. 30 am to 4.30 pm and it is being objected by them in their discussions. (The university’s present working time for staff is from 10 am to 5.45 pm).
MKU staff starting from assistant professor to associate professor level are openly expressing that general timings will be suitable for them because university staff stay for long hours for research and department adminsitration purposes.
“Our MKU’s working timings should be concurrent with general timings of colleges. Our university faculty go to various colleges and higher educational institutions for seminars/ meetings / programmes/ research guide etc. How can this idea of 8.30 am to 4.30 pm work timings be better for us since our staff stay back for beyond usual working time even now, especially in the science departments,” a senior faculty member has raised a question while giving his feedback about the Vice-Chancellor’s proposal to change working hours.
The Madurai Kamaraj University Faculty Association (MUFA) too has expressed its objection to Vice-Chancellor Prof.J.Kumar’s new working hours proposal because it will put the staff and students in hardship since faculty and students come to Madurai from various places daily. “We have to take into account the research hours timings….Our professors go to colleges as subject experts regularly and timings will vary. So, we want our Vice-Chancellor to drop his proposal completely and allow the university to function as a research institution. Please don’t make it into a office working in two shifts,” university staff members and MUFA office-bearers have expressed their opinions today.
According to sources, the MKU Vice-Chancellor was explained about the administration functioning timings of Directorate of Collegiate Education of Government of Tamil Nadu and the reasons why his idea to start from 8.30 am will not be feasible for university administrative staff.
An important MUFA office-bearer has said that there is no merit in the Vice-Chancellor’s proposal to change timings of working hours. “What he (VC) says is not convincing and we are not convinced. Think of transport facility for our students who are coming from far off places” the MUFA office-bearer said today.
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