Thousands of teachers and students from Delhi University participated in a strike called by the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) to protest against “anti-education and anti-people policy pronouncements of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development”.
‘Attempts to privatise’
The teachers said the issues they were trying to highlight through their protest include attempts to privatise and commercialise public-funded education in the country, making it inaccessible to large sections of students.
In particular, the teachers were strongly opposed to the 30%-70% funding formula, grants for infrastructural needs being replaced by loans through HEFA, the tripartite MoU requiring steady increase in students’ fees, Graded Autonomy and the scheme of autonomous colleges.
“Uncertainty over appointments, promotions and pensions in the Delhi University is affecting the morale of teachers and it is extremely unfortunate that the Vice-Chancellor has shown no sign of being aware of the problems afflicting the university community,” said Delhi University Teachers’ Association president Rajib Ray.
