AAP joins DU teachers’ cause against UGC orders

Aam Aadmi Party has joined the cause of striking Delhi University teachers who are protesting against the recent guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) calling it an infringement on autonomy of higher educational institutions. The teachers cutting across their ideological affiliations have boycotted the evaluation process till the UGC withdraws the guidelines.

“It is extremely shocking that the BJP’s Central government has forced the Delhi University teachers to go on a strike at a time when the checking of answer sheets of under graduate classes is going on,” said AAP in a press statement. The statement further alleged that Central government lead by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to impose the decision of Congress led UPA government in promotion of teachers in Delhi University which they had to withdraw after protest by teachers. “The amendments notified by UGC are irrational and will play havoc with the situation of higher education in the country. UGC should immediately suspend the notifications immediately and initiate dialogue with teaching faculty,” said Pragnesh Shah, Secretary of Higher Education Wing of ABRSM, a Right wing teacher’s body.  

ABRSM also opposed student’s feedback for teachers’ evaluation demanded its withdraw in entirety. “We demand appointment of teaching faculty in a time-bound manner. The five year appointment of principals is irrational,” said Anurag Mishra, a faculty in Deen Dayal Upadhaya College, Delhi University.

The president of Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA), Nandita Narayan, who is a belongs to the Left wing said: “The gazette notification has increased the workload for assistant professors from 16 hours of “direct teaching” per week to 18 hours, plus another six of tutorials, bringing the total up to 24 hours,” Nandita Narayan, President DUTA said. There are around 3,500 vacancies in various departments and colleges of Delhi University. The teachers alleged that the Central government is actually trying to escape from its responsibility of filling up over 3,000 vacancies in Delhi University through this UGC order.