Central varsity teachers protest at UGC office

NEW DELHI: Teachers from Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University, IGNOU and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) took to the streets on Wednesday,

NEW DELHI: Teachers from Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University, IGNOU and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) took to the streets on Wednesday, demanding withdrawal of the point system that determines their promotion. They held a protest outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) building.

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The point system, called the Academic Performance Indicator (API), has been the point of contention among teachers since it was notified in 2010.

This issue resurfaced after the UGC notified the 3rd Amendment Regulation and the API was made stringent. Apart from API, teachers have been demanding withdrawal of the regulation.

“For the last eight years, teachers in colleges and universities have been denied promotions because of the draconian scheme based on API which mechanically and bureaucratically quantifies teaching and research work. The system is so faulty that the UGC has been forced to amend it three times since it was first notified in 2010. This irrational and unacademic scheme has adversely affected quality of teaching and research work,” said Nandita Narain, president of Federation of Central University Teachers Association (FEDCUTA).

T he protest was led by FEDCUTA and saw a large participation of teachers despite the rain in the city. Delhi University teachers have already boycotted evaluation and admission, protesting against API. The evaluation boycott was extended for almost two months. Teachers demanded that vacant posts in the university be filled immediately and declare the 7th pay commission results sooner. Lakhs of teaching posts are lying vacant in state and central universities. In DU alone, there are 4,500 seats lying vacant.

Teachers also protested against the attack on the administrative and academic autonomy of universities. They said the Choice Based Credit System has taken away the right to decide on a need-based curriculum.