DUTA to continue evaluation boycott

In a bid to protest against the proposed autonomy to St. Stephen’s College, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) on Wednesday said the teachers will continue the evaluation boycott.

Further, the staff association of St. Stephen’s College has written to Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, seeking his intervention in the matter.

‘Teachers excluded’

The letter to Mr. Javadekar read, “We would like to point out that attempts to exclude teachers have been systematic. The teachers were not consulted either before or after the General Body decision to move for autonomy. Again, when the UGC committee came to visit the college, an attempt was made by the administration to keep the main body of teachers away from the interaction.”

“Furthermore, we would like to inform you that 46 of 56 permanent teachers who are in Delhi have opposed autonomy on record. We, therefore, request you to convene a meeting in which teachers, students and non-teaching staff of the college can express their concerns regarding autonomy,” added the letter.

‘Teaching shop’

DUTA president Rajib Ray said, “As the government moves forward on its agenda to grant autonomous status to DU colleges, the general body of teachers unanimously resolved to give stiff opposition and continue with the evaluation boycott. The schemes of autonomous colleges and graded autonomy is a push towards self-financing schemes and online courses. Universities and colleges of repute are being turned into teaching shop.”

The university had on May 19 urged teachers to resume the evaluation process keeping in mind the “future of final-year students”.

DU appeals

“The final-year students of the university will be the worst affected since they require the results to apply for further studies in different universities. Considering the future of our students, an appeal is made to the teaching fraternity of DU to join the evaluation process and complete the evaluation well in time so that results can be declared without delay,” DU Registrar Tarun Das had said.