The Delhi University Teachers’ Association members held a protest near the Vice-Chancellor’s office here on Tuesday .
They were protesting against the proposed semester system and attendance registration for teachers and also the draft regulations of the University Grants Commission with regard to service conditions of teachers.
“We are protesting the academic performance indicators and performance-based proposal system in the UGC draft regulations since this will cause teachers’ promotions to be governed by the earning of points,” DUTA president Aditya Narayan Misra said.
“Publications in journals, winning prestigious awards, holding posts such as vice-principal, dean, bursar and supervising M.Phil and Ph.D. students will garner teachers varied levels of points linked to promotion. However, it is not possible for all teachers to accomplish these tasks,” he added.
The semester system was opposed because it is believed that it may result in dilution of the university’s flagship honours courses. DUTA member Rajib Ray said: “The semester system will entail cutting down of syllabus content and choices given to students. Students will be bogged down by examinations.”
With regard to the proposed attendance system, Mr. Ray said: “There are already mechanisms in place to monitor the attendance of teachers such as staff councils, principals and internal assessment.”
At a DUTA general body meeting which was also held on Tuesday, DUTA resolved to persuade teachers to not participate in committees relating to semester system. A protest by staff associations in various colleges without disrupting classes will be held on December 18 while a protest march has been planned on December 22. The DUTA has also resolved to demonstrate at the UGC after the mid-term examinations in colleges finish.
