Guwahati, May 11: The Assam College Teachers' Association (ACTA) today demanded increase in the retirement age of college teachers from 60 years to 65 years.

Talking to the media, the association said the University Grants Commission (UGC) had increased the retirement age of college teachers to 65 years but the state government had not implemented it. In Assam, the retirement age of college teachers is still 60 years.

"Gauhati High Court has also said that the retirement age of college teachers should be 65 years," ACTA general secretary Tulsi Das said.

"The state government has increased the retirement age of vice-chancellors of universities to 70 years, going by the guidelines of the UGC. But a similar guideline for college teachers has not been implemented," Das said.

ACTA, which was set up in 1949, is one of the largest organisations working for the rights of college teachers in Assam.

The association also demanded removal of higher secondary classes (XI and XII) from colleges. It said college teachers are paid to teach in undergraduate and postgraduate classes but not higher secondary classes.

"The college teachers of Assam have been teaching higher secondary students without receiving a single penny for the service. Besides, teaching in higher secondary classes creates problems in the college semester system," Das said.

He also said the UGC has prepared separate rules for college teachers on leave but these have not been implemented in Assam.

The association said though the state government is going to implement the Seventh Pay Commission, college teachers are still waiting for 18 months' arrears (January 2006 till June 2007) after the government implemented the Sixth Pay Commission.