Mona El-Nahhas reports on the ongoing standoff over pay between the Ministry of Higher Education and university teaching staff In a challenge to the will of university professors the Higher Universities Council has approved a scheme of incentive-led bonuses to raise the pay of teaching staff rather than increasing basic salaries as professors had demanded. The council failed to introduce any of the amendments suggested by university teachers into the Ministry of Higher Education's scheme. Reacting angrily, the 9 March Group for the Independence of Universities threatened a series of escalating measures though there is dissent among teachers' ranks over their efficacy. "Let's be realistic. Sit-ins and work stoppage are not that fruitful during the summer vacation," points out Mansoura University professor Tareq Desouqi. "The new system will not be applied before the start of the new academic year. So let's wait and see." Heads of university teaching staff clubs issued several statements in response to the scheme and board members agreed to meet on Tuesday morning at Helwan University to decide on what steps to take. Hani El-Husseini, a member of the 9 March Group, has few hopes of the meeting. "Clubs' heads no longer represent the views of the majority of professors. The meeting will lead to nothing. At best they will call upon the minister of higher education to reconsider professors' suggestions before starting to implement the project. Then, of course, they will wait for his reply." Some heads of teachers clubs were recruited by Minister of Higher Education Hani Helal to help in drafting the pay scheme. "I do not expect that after taking part in preparing the project they will come out against it," says El-Husseini. "I think it is better to give the minister another chance," argues Adel Abdel-Gawwad, head of the Cairo University Teaching Staff Club and one of those involved in drawing up the ministry's scheme. Abdel-Gawwad said on a number of occasions that confrontation with the government will achieve nothing and act against the interest of professors. For months professors have been pressing -- via sit-ins, protests and a symbolic work stoppage -- for a non-conditional 100 per cent increase in basic rates of pay for all teaching staff. During meetings with university professors, Helal has repeatedly stressed that any pay increases must be linked to performance targets. The system of conditional bonuses proposed range between LE1,200 to LE2,000 according to the qualifications held by teaching staff members and the extent to which they lecture, supervise post-graduate theses, participate in student union activities or become involved in strategic planning for their faculties. University teachers must also work a weekly minimum of 28 hours to be eligible for bonus payments. Faced with angry professors Helal pledged that the system would only be implemented if it gains their approval and urged professors to enter into negotiations. A general conference for university teachers was held earlier this month at Banha Teaching Staff Club, during which a final paper including professors' recommendations regarding the project was drafted. These focussed on limiting the wide-ranging power assigned to universities' administrations under the suggested payment scheme by making the department council at each faculty, and not the university administration, the sole body authorised to follow up and assess the performance of professors. The department council should define tasks and working hours for teaching staff members and the bonus, it was recommended, should be paid monthly starting July and continuing through the duration of the summer vacation, to all teaching staff. All the recommendations have been ignored. "What has happened is no surprise. It's not the first time the minister breaks promises made to us," says Desouqi.
