JNU, DU teachers differ over rules for promotion, appointment

The Left leaning academicians are divided on the ‘promotion norms’ for teachers. While Left bastion in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has adopted the mandatory Annual Performance Index (API) in the appointment and promotions of its teachers, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has declared  a ‘crusade’ for its complete rollback.

The DUTA, too, is led by the Left front. The agitating Delhi University teachers are demanding to go back to the ‘self assessment-cum-interview’ for appointments and promotions, which were used in the University till 2008.

“There needs to be a provision, which regulates academicians across the Central universities,” said Badri Narayan, a JNU professor.  Narayan feels the agitation to be a political campaign, rather than a concern about the API norms. Narayan, who teaches in the Centre for Study of Discrimination and Exclusion at  JNU, said, “Across the west, the publication of two research papers per year is compulsory for University teachers. Also, the authorship of a book from a renowned publication is compulsory for appointment and appraisal in the universities located there.” 

A left leaning premier research institute – Center for the Study Developing Society (CSDS) – also follows strict norms as prescribed by the API. Besides, several other universities have adopted the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) API norms. 

However, DUTA president Nandita Narain, has opposed the API norms, saying that promotions to the post of professor were smooth under the Merit Promotion Scheme (MPS).

The MPS was based on a system of self-assessment followed by an interview. “The promotions of teachers are pending due to the these norms. The norms are faulty, which is why they were amended several times since being introduced in 2008,” said Narain ,who is from the Democratic Teacher’s Front (DTF). The DUTA had organised a candlelight march at Mandi House on Saturday, opposing the API.

  “Demanding the complete rollback of the API is against the spirit of reforming the higher education system. The UGC has accepted all major demands, and the DUTA must call off its strike and welcome the reforms to improve the academic standards,” said Pragnesh Shah, secretary of ABRSM, (Higher Education), a right-wing teachers’ body. 

ABRSM Organising Secretary Mahendra Kapoor said “Since the UGC has rolled back the say of students in the API score and eliminated the increased workload, the DUTA should welcome these reforms, which are in the interest of higher education.”