“If national development is what India is looking to achieve, the retirement age of academicians in the country has to be raised. Education is one sector which really calls for experience. It’s not only the knowledge and the skill which aid a teacher but experience too. To learn the art of doing more work in less time, I believe, experience is essential,” said Dr Rajan Gurukkal, Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam (Kerala).Expressing his displeasure over the low retirement age norm (55 years) in Kerala, Gurukkal believes that 50’s is the most resourceful time in a teacher’s life.
“For an educationist, it’s the time when he can deliver to the maximum. But our system is such that a teacher's skills and abilities are wasted,” he added. Gurukkal also cited examples of International Universities where faculties are mostly aged between 65 and 75. He argued that top-notch varsities gave value to their teachers with experience.
“People aged above 55 are a group with competence. I accept that older teachers are not updated academically as compared to their younger counterparts. But, for that the system here has to be blamed too. There has been little interest from the government and administrators in upgrading the skills of older teachers. If the state decides to enhance the pension age, there should also be a move to enhance the standards of teachers. Teachers then will also put in an effort to update themselves,” he said.
Although, he said that an option of voluntary retirement should be there which will help teachers who are physically weak.
Explaining that different sectors require different age norms, he said, “The government should take a different stand for people working in administration as experience is less important there. The best option before the government is to have different pension ages for people working in different sectors,” he opined.
Dr Rajan Gurukkal holds a PhD degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University. New Delhi. He has over thirty-five years’ of teaching experience. He has been handling the administrative functions as a vice-chancellor for two years. Dr. Gurukkal has received Teacher Fellowship from Indian Council of Historical Research, National Teacher Fellowship from UGC. He has been awarded Oravakkal Mathen Memorial Best Academician Award in 1986. He has also been a member of many advisory committees of Government of Kerala. Prof Gurukkal has authored eight books and has numerous articles in various Research Journals/periodicals of International Repute to his credit.
[Source: Deccan Chronicle]
[Source: Deccan Chronicle]
