Cracks appear in Duta protest

Delhi University teachers are divided over their ongoing boycott of undergraduate examination evaluation and of the admission process to protest against the new University Grants Commission norms.

Since May 24, the DU teachers have been boycotting evaluation of undergraduate examinations to protest against amendments to the UGC regulations that, they argue, will lead to job cuts to the tune of 50 per cent and drastically decrease pupil-teacher ratio. The boycott was later extended to undergraduate admission process as well.

A section of teachers has now opposed the boycott, contending it may jeopardise career of the DU students. “The teachers noticed that career of many students has been put under jeopardy due to the continuing evaluation boycott and the students are making desperate calls to their teachers to know about the developments in this regard. We express dismay and displeasure over the manner in which the teachers’ strike is continuing without paying any heed to the difficulties that the students and their parents are facing due to the dissociation call by the Duta... An admission boycott call can in no way be justified,” a group of 200 faculty members said in a statement.

Terming the boycott an “unethical” mode of protest, the students had earlier urged the teachers to end the boycott, fearing their results would get delayed. The DU teachers had at the time decided to end the boycott for final year students. “Delay in the result of first and second year students will also hamper the workload adjustments and calculations as this will be required to make a case for continuation of ad hoc teachers. The teachers decided to give a call to other fellows to start participating in the admission and evaluation process,” the teachers’ statement said.

Meanwhile, students joined the right-wing students’ group ABVP’s protest on Monday in the university’s North Campus against the Duta boycott. Holding roses and placards, the students marched from Vishwavidyalaya Metro station to the Duta office.