DU ad-hoc teachers to continue protest till all demands are met

New Delhi: Even as the Delhi University ad-hoc teachers welcomed the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) decision that no ad-hoc teacher will lose their job, they have decided to continue the protest till all demands are met. Speaking to Millennium Post, DU Teachers' Association (DUTA) President Rajib Dutta said, "The DUTA meeting along with ad-hoc teachers is going on and we are working on the next course of action."

On Thursday, in a meeting with the DU Vice-Chancellor, the Chairman, Secretary and senior officers of UGC along with DUTA representatives, it was decided that all ad-hoc teachers in the current academic year be allowed to continue until the beginning of the next academic session or till the recruitment of permanent

faculty.

"Though, some of our demands have been met, a lot of them have not been addressed. The amendment will save the ad-hoc teachers from losing their jobs for the time being and the new EWS positions will also help open up some job opportunities," said Dutta.

Meanwhile, the HRD said, that the UGC 'Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges' and measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education 2018, should be amended. "Provided that the faculty appointed and working on ad hoc/temporary/contract basis and meeting the eligibility criteria shall be shortlisted for interview," reads the amendment.

"Further, in the same regulation, the criteria for short-listing of candidates for interview for the post of Assistant Professor was also updated. It is expected that with the changes, all the ad hoc/temporary/contract teachers with requisite eligibility, and have taught or have been teaching in the current academic session in the university or institution would be short-listed for the interview for permanent positions," added the amended regulation.