Students protest against dismissal of Gurukul guest, part-time faculty

HYDERABAD: Students have taken to the streets to protest in support of guest and part-time faculty dismissed from Social Welfare Gurukul schools.

A government circular resulted in the abrupt termination of around 250 faculty members, including guest and part-time lecturers, leaving them without jobs. These teachers had not received their salaries for three months before being suddenly dismissed, and their families have been left in distress.

The guest faculty expressed their anguish over being removed in the middle of the academic year. "How will we survive without pay?" one of the associates questioned. They pointed out that they had not been paid for the last three months, and despite being given extensions for the 2024-25 academic year, they were terminated midway. The lecturers, who had helped students secure seats in top institutes like IITs and NITs, are now worried about the education of the remaining students.

The sudden dismissal has raised concerns as there are an estimated 2,500-3,000 vacancies in all Gurukula schools. While the government has announced new part-time appointments, faculty accuse it of using vacancies to rehire under different terms. The issue has been especially contentious as tribal welfare and minority Gurukula schools continued employing their staff, while the social welfare Gurukuls witnessed these mass terminations. Many believe this move will negatively impact Dalit students, pushing their education into uncertainty.