Chandigarh: Govt colleges’ teachers write to UT admn seeking 5-day working week

Chandigarh Educators Demand 5-Day Workweek for Government Colleges

Chandigarh’s government college educators have intensified their campaign for a five-day workweek, urging the Union Territory (UT) administration to adopt the change for the 2026-27 academic year. The Chandigarh Government Colleges Teachers’ Association (CGCTA) submitted a formal letter to the UT administration, arguing that the current six-day schedule is outdated and creates inefficiencies in teaching and administrative functions. With Chandigarh’s educational landscape evolving, the proposal aims to harmonize college operations with broader administrative practices, offering a more balanced approach for staff and students alike.

A Call for Consistency and Modernization

The push for a five-day workweek in Chandigarh’s government colleges is rooted in a long-standing disparity between the working hours of educational staff and other UT departments. Since the adoption of Central Civil Services (CCS) Rules in April 2022, which standardized leave and service terms for central government employees, the colleges have continued to operate on a six-day schedule. This has led to growing frustration among teachers, who claim the rules apply to their work hours but not their leave entitlements, leaving them with fewer holidays and longer working days.

"The CCS Rules were introduced to streamline service terms across all departments, yet Chandigarh’s government colleges remain an exception," remarked a CGCTA representative. "This inconsistency has caused burnout among staff and reduced productivity, while other institutions in Chandigarh, like Panjab University, already follow a five-day structure."

Stakeholder Support and Broader Implications

Support for the five-day workweek has gathered momentum among multiple stakeholders, including faculty, students, and administrative staff. Institutions such as the Government College of Art (Sector 10) and the Chandigarh College of Architecture have already implemented the change, aligning their schedules with the UT’s other entities. These colleges now operate under a model that allows for two consecutive days off, which has been praised for improving work-life balance and fostering more efficient teaching practices.

The proposal also leverages the flexibility provided by the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations (2010 and 2018), which permit institutions to fulfill 180 teaching days through either a five-day or six-day format. Teachers argue that the six-day schedule fails to accommodate modern demands such as PhD supervision, research output, and continuous evaluation, which require extended hours and regular downtime. By adopting a five-day structure, they believe the UT can better align with contemporary educational standards and reduce operational strain.

Students, particularly those in honors programs, have also endorsed the change. For them, the two-day weekend offers critical time for independent study, fieldwork, and exam preparation. The CGCTA further highlighted that the six-day schedule limits teachers’ annual leave to just eight days, creating a need for structured downtime to sustain long-term productivity. Non-teaching personnel, too, support the shift, citing parity with UT administrative offices and environmental benefits, such as a projected 15-16% reduction in energy use and commuting costs.

Implementation Challenges and Future Steps

While the majority of Chandigarh’s eight public colleges have expressed approval for the five-day workweek, a few remain in the process of finalizing their stance. The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) is currently reviewing these pending responses and plans to initiate formal procedures once all feedback is received. DHE director Palika Arora confirmed that the administration is committed to evaluating the proposal, though a final decision has yet to be announced.

Implementing the change would require updating the academic calendar to reflect the new schedule, which currently accommodates both five-day and six-day formats. This adjustment, however, is seen as necessary to ensure uniformity across the UT’s educational institutions. Teachers emphasize that the five-day model could also enhance collaboration with other government bodies, as Chandigarh’s colleges would no longer operate on a divergent timeline compared to the rest of the administration.

With the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 advocating for student-centric learning and reduced workload for educators, the proposal aligns with broader reform goals. The CGCTA argues that a five-day workweek in Chandigarh’s colleges would not only address immediate concerns but also position the UT as a leader in adopting progressive educational practices. As the debate continues, the UT administration faces pressure to finalize its decision and set a precedent for other states and union territories.

Chandigarh’s educational community remains hopeful that the five-day workweek will be implemented, citing its potential to improve teaching quality, staff morale, and student outcomes. The shift also reflects a growing recognition of the need for flexibility in educational management, especially as the demands of modern academia evolve. With support from diverse stakeholders, the proposal could become a pivotal step toward modernizing Chandigarh’s higher education sector and ensuring it remains competitive in the region.