Teachers demand national commission for education

The 27th statutory conference of All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations demanded that six per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) must be spent on education.

The three-day 27th statutory conference of All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (AIFUCTO) which concluded here on Monday resolved to urge the government to set up a national commission for education. The commission should work out policy matters, should address recruitment and qualification issues and all issues of education comprehensively, the conference noted.

It demanded that the Union government immediately withdraw performance-based funding to institutes of higher learning under Rashtriya Uchchittar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).

It noted that that the government is trying to pass several anti-teacher, anti-student bills pending before the Parliament.

“To cite an instance, the government of India has decided to demolish even the existing public funded colleges, converting it into universities and awarding degree giving status to several autonomous colleges much against the wishes of the public at large. The committee formed for this purpose has hastily issued a public notice giving only 15 days notice to make comprehensive amendments in the UGC Act 1956. Further, the government of India has not solved any of the professional demands of the teachers either. The corruption and arrogance are at the peak,” the resolution said.

It decided to launch campaign for strengthening public funded education, inclusion of all categories of teachers in the University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scale framework, to forge unity of teachers’ organisations of primary, secondary and higher education.

It demanded that six per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) must be spent on education.

It demanded filling of all the vacant posts on regular basis and create new posts in aided sector and self-financing courses.

The conference decided to mobilise teachers across the country and organise a rally at Delhi during the upcoming Budget session of the Parliament to highlight issues of education and teachers.

The conference condemned the passage of the new pension scheme in the Parliament.