As admissions loom, DU teachers up ante on evaluation freeze

NEW DELHI: Delhi University teachers have decided to continue their boycott of the evaluation process till Saturday, intensifying their protest against a UGC notification that could lead to around 5,000 temporary teachers losing their jobs.

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The move could delay the results of the university’s undergraduate exams which are to be announced by June 30.

“The teachers were left with no option but to continue with the boycott of the evaluation process till June 11. We have also decided to tak eout a protest rally on Friday to the HRD ministry,” said DUTA president Nandita Narain after a general body meeting on Tuesday.

The association has opposed the notification that has increased the workload and teaching hours of assistant and associate professors. DUTA contends that since the course material would be covered by “overworked” professors, it may lead to the retrenchment of temporary, guest and ad-hoc teachers. Teachers also say it would make promotions difficult as the increased workload would leave them with no time for research or quality lectures, reflecting adversely on their performance.

After a meeting with the University Grants Commission chairperson failed to break the deadlock on Monday, the association also threatened to boycott the admission process, which will begin in earnest with the first cut-off list on June 27. Teachers are crucial to this process as they verify applicants’ documents and certificates.