Just days before Diwali, around 209 ad-hoc teachers working in government and grant-in-aid engineering and diploma colleges across Gujarat have been handed termination notices. The move comes as the state’s Technical Education Department plans to bring in “professors of practice” to replace them.For many of these teachers, the decision has come as a severe setback. Some have been serving since 1998, earning between ₹25,000 and ₹80,000 per month.
“Several of us are only a couple of years away from retirement. Losing our jobs now means we may never find employment again,” said a government college teacher. “The government talks of hiring professors of practice, but there’s no clear plan or list of industry experts to replace us.
”While the affected teachers have reportedly received interim relief from the court, uncertainty over their future continues. B.H. Talati, Director of Technical Education, was unavailable for comment.