The Delhi University Teachers’ Association at its general body meeting here on Friday decided to go on a week-long strike beginning October 25. The strike will be reviewed on October 29.
The teachers’ association has been protesting against the manner of implementation of the semester system at the under-graduate level. The continuation of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Deepak Pental in office following the expiry of his term in August has also invited criticism from the DUTA.
At its meeting, the DUTA decided to stage demonstrations in every college from October 25-26, hold Staff Association meetings on October 27 and announced plans to stage a protest march to the Union Human Resource Development Ministry on October 28.
It also sent out an appeal to teachers to not sign attendance registers or give any undertaking. Further teachers have been asked not to participate in semester examinations and to conduct the mid-term examinations according to the annual mode. The DUTA is also planning to approach the Federation of Central Universities Teachers’ Association to gain support for their protest.
Asserting that reform in higher education should be carried out only through informed debate and discussion, the teachers have decided to intensify the protest against imposition of the semester system in 13 under-graduate courses. The DUTA also condemned the V-C’s warning of cutting the pay of teachers if they went on strike.
Meanwhile, Delhi University authorities in a statement said: “Teaching has already suffered in the current academic session due to frequent strikes/demonstrations…and the university had to modify the academic calendar to make up for the loss of teaching.”
The statement asked teachers not to strike work as it would “harm the interests of students irreparably and is not according to the best traditions of teaching and learning”.
Colleges have been asked to strictly enforce the “No Work, No Pay” principle.
