‘Need time machine to stick to UGC rules’

Delhi University teachers demand scrapping of Academic Performance Index

Fed up: As per the 2010 UGC guidelines, promotion of teachers depend on their individual API scores.

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) on Wednesday held a protest at the arts faculty in north campus demanding the scrapping of the Academic Performance Index (API) system introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

It also observed a one-day pen-down protest at all evaluation centres.

Retrospective execution

In its 2010 guidelines, the UGC stated that the promotion of teachers would depend on their individual API scores. This score takes into account the number of lectures taken by a teacher, examination duties, research work carried out and other factors.

In a further setback to the teachers, the then vice-chancellor of DU, Dinesh Singh, had introduced a new guideline which stated that teachers who were eligible for promotion on or after December 31, 2008, will need their API scores for further promotion.

“The API system is nothing but a quantification of work. This is a clear indication that the government is trying to avoid giving promotions. Teachers cannot earn points retrospectively. Even if I am required to do some research work, I need to know that in advance. How is one supposed to retrospectively carry out work and accumulate points? It is for this reason we are demanding a time machine. Probably then we will be able to fulfil the guidelines,” said Abha Dev Habib, DUTA member.

‘Bad scheme’

DUTA president Nandita Narain said, “We are fighting for the issue at two levels. One cannot collect points retrospectively. So at the university level we want a roll-back of this particular guideline. We also want the university to start appointments for permanent posts. The V-C is not honouring the assurances he had given us”.

“The surprising thing is that a bad scheme, which was brought in by UPA-II, is being carried forward by the NDA government,” said Professor Habib.