Several teacher and students joined the march called by the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) to protest against the Central government’s “bullying insistence” on the signing the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Will end UGC grants
The DUTA said it was opposed to the tripartite MoU because it causes the university and its colleges to generate resources through regular fee hikes, increased enrolment and mobilise revenue from corporate sources, alumni and self-financed courses.
“It also puts an end to University Grants Commission (UGC) grants and forces the university to take infrastructure loans through Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). Additionally, it allows the Ministry of Human Resource Development to set absurd quantified targets for the qualitative assessment and learning outcomes of courses offered at the university,” said DUTA president Rajib Ray .
The teachers marching from Mandi House to Parliament Street, said that such a move would have adverse effects on equity, access and quality higher education and urged the government to have a larger debate on the issue.