Kohima, February 11 (MExN): The former teaching faculty of the Mountain View Christian College (MVCC), Kohima, clarified through a press note on the ongoing crisis within the college. The note stated that Mountain View Christian College (MVCC), Kohima, established in the year 1991 is affiliated to the Nagaland University. In the past, the college was one of the prestigious colleges in Nagaland. But today, the college has been lacking in many areas which hampers the growth and development of the college. Apart from teaching general subjects, the college is also offering four honors subjects (Political Science, History, English, and Economics). But the teaching faculty comprised of only 16 Lecturers (11 full-time and five part-time teachers) which is incomplete. The monthly remuneration is Rs.6000/- for the full-time teachers and Rs.3000/- for the part-time teachers, with a yearly increment of Rs.100/- which is very low as compared to other colleges in Nagaland and far below the old Basic U.G.C. pay-scale. The library facility is not well-equipped as such the students and the teachers are not getting enough materials. Further, the class-room and staff-room facilities are almost pathetic.
The note stated that to address all these grievances, and to work for the up-liftment of the college, the teachers formed a union (Mountain View Christian College Teachers’ Union) on October 9. Following this, all the lecturers unanimously took a pledge and laid down signatures as a testimony to co-operate the Union in all the circumstances. The Union fervently appealed and submitted a memorandum to the managing authority to look into the grievances of the students and the teachers. The managing authority meanwhile, gave both verbal and written assurance, promising to fulfill all the demands from January 2011.
However, the note informed that the developments that followed was unexpected and a shock to the teachers when six lecturers were terminated by the managing authority on invalid grounds in the month of November 2010, stating that the demands will not be fulfilled due to financial reasons. After few weeks, an advertisement appeared in some local dailies for the post of the terminated lecturers with a starting salary of Rs.8000/- per month.
“This act of the managing authority is demeaning and an insult not only to the six lecturers but also to all the teaching faculty. Therefore, as an act of resentment against the managing authority, all the lecturers tendered mass resignation. However, four teachers defected from the Union and refused to tender their resignation for reasons best known to them,” stated the note and added that the former MVCC teachers worked very hard in promoting and enhancing quality education keeping in mind the interest of the students.
The former teaching facultyof MVCC also stated that the ongoing crisis within the college is purely an attempt to herald an era of progress and positive change which shall consequently contribute towards the benefit of the students and the society as well and that the demands that had been put forward to the managing authority are valid and genuine. “We bear no personal grudge and enmity with the managing authority. Our only regret is that a body of intellectuals has been discriminated and victimized just because we chose to be the instruments of positive change. We sincerely hope and belief that people understands our cause,” stated the note.
The note stated that to address all these grievances, and to work for the up-liftment of the college, the teachers formed a union (Mountain View Christian College Teachers’ Union) on October 9. Following this, all the lecturers unanimously took a pledge and laid down signatures as a testimony to co-operate the Union in all the circumstances. The Union fervently appealed and submitted a memorandum to the managing authority to look into the grievances of the students and the teachers. The managing authority meanwhile, gave both verbal and written assurance, promising to fulfill all the demands from January 2011.
However, the note informed that the developments that followed was unexpected and a shock to the teachers when six lecturers were terminated by the managing authority on invalid grounds in the month of November 2010, stating that the demands will not be fulfilled due to financial reasons. After few weeks, an advertisement appeared in some local dailies for the post of the terminated lecturers with a starting salary of Rs.8000/- per month.
“This act of the managing authority is demeaning and an insult not only to the six lecturers but also to all the teaching faculty. Therefore, as an act of resentment against the managing authority, all the lecturers tendered mass resignation. However, four teachers defected from the Union and refused to tender their resignation for reasons best known to them,” stated the note and added that the former MVCC teachers worked very hard in promoting and enhancing quality education keeping in mind the interest of the students.
The former teaching facultyof MVCC also stated that the ongoing crisis within the college is purely an attempt to herald an era of progress and positive change which shall consequently contribute towards the benefit of the students and the society as well and that the demands that had been put forward to the managing authority are valid and genuine. “We bear no personal grudge and enmity with the managing authority. Our only regret is that a body of intellectuals has been discriminated and victimized just because we chose to be the instruments of positive change. We sincerely hope and belief that people understands our cause,” stated the note.
.JPG)
