Bengaluru:  The Department of Collegiate Education has issued a circular stating that services of Guest Lecturers who have been working at various colleges across the State will be continued.  The Department has, however, advised these lecturers to apply online for the recruitment process. After filling the posts with the existing Guest Lecturers, the Department will consider fresh recruitment based on merit.

Members of the Karnataka State First Grade Colleges Guest Lectures Association met Minister for Higher Education G.T. Devegowda (GTD) on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum on their concerns over the recruitment process.

There are over 10,146 Guest Lecturers in Karnataka. The Guest Lecturers told the Minister that the salary they get is Rs.11,500 a month while in other States it varies between Rs.22,000 and Rs.25,000. They sought that the State pay them on a par with their counterparts in other States.

Devegowda said that his Dept. had initiated the process to hire 11,000 Guest Lecturers to fill up vacancies in PU Colleges. Replying to a debate in the Assembly yesterday, Devegowda said that existing vacancies would be filled through the online process. He also said that the Govt. would bring in amendments to the private Universities Legislation to stop the Varsities from offering agricultural sciences and technology course. He said that the government would not allow the establishment of private Agricultural Universities or Colleges henceforth. Also, Agricultural Colleges and Universities would be brought under the Agriculture Department, he said.