The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) decided to boycott the evaluation process of examinations since May 9 to protest against the delay in appointment and absorption of adhoc teachers by the university and also the policies of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Among UGC policies, teachers are opposed to the graded autonomy and schemes that can lead to the privatisation of colleges in Delhi University.
In a letter to Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi listing their demands, DUTA president Rajib Ray wrote: “We wish to express our dismay and anguish over the fact that most of the issues of teachers remain unresolved even after more than two years since you [VC] assumed office. Teachers have been waiting for appointments, promotions and pensions but unfortunately, there is no movement on these issues.”
According to DUTA, teachers of several colleges are extremely exercised over the attempts by the Government to thrust autonomous status on them. “The Scheme of Autonomous Colleges and Graded Autonomy, which push towards self-financing schemes and online courses, will have far-reaching consequences for higher education, changing its objectives and purpose especially in a country like ours,” the DUTA letter stated.
At present, the boycott will affect the evaluation of 1.2 lakh university students studying in 63 colleges, resulting in uncertainty over results. The outgoing students are most concerned as their fate is hanging in balance over results. Most of them have applied for different universities in the country as well as abroad for pursuing higher studies but now with the expected delay in results, students are perturbed and quite apprehensive about their future plans.
The evaluation process takes a month to complete and then the examination department takes another month after that to release the results. Every year, the DU semester-end results start getting out by the month of July. But this time, it looks highly unlikely as according to reports, the university hasn’t yet responded to this boycott by teachers.
There has been no appeal or intervention from the university’s side to pacify the protesting teachers. However, in the tussle between university and teachers, it’s the students who may have to bear the brunt of evaluation delay. Most of them will be required to submit their marksheets by August-end or September to the universities and colleges in which they have applied for admission for postgraduate courses. Any delay in results declaration will hamper their admission procedure and thus will create panic and chaos among the students.
In the meantime, Delhi University has already begun the online application process for admissions to its different undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for the academic session 2018-19, from May 15 (for undergraduate courses) and May 18 (for post-graduate courses).