The boycott of undergraduate exams evaluation by Delhi University teachers in protest against the new UGC criteria to ascertain their academic performance, entered its 15th day today and will continue till June 11.
The teachers had initially called for a four-day boycott beginning May 24, which was further extended till June 2 and then till today but it was decided in a General Body (GB) meeting of Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) to continue the boycott till June 11.
The agitating teachers will also take out a protest rally to HRD Ministry on June 10 following which next course of action will be decided in the GB meeting.
The teachers are protesting against amendments to UGC regulations that, they argue, will lead to job-cuts to the tune of 50 per cent and drastically decrease pupil-teacher ratio in higher education.
"It was decided unanimously that teachers were left with no option but to continue with the evaluation boycott till June 11. The General Body also decided to take out a protest rally to the MHRD on June 10 wearing black sashes around their heads to highlight the crisis in higher education," a DUTA statement said.
The new gazette notification has increased the workload for assistant professors from 16 hours of "direct teaching" per week (including tutorials) to 18 hours, plus another six of tutorials, bringing the total up to 24 hours. Similarly the work hours of associate professors have been increased from 14 to 22.
Following protests, the HRD ministry had directed UGC to review the same. The commission had yesterday organised consultations on the issue with various stake holders including representatives of teachers associations from across the country.
The protesting teachers had however claimed that the consultations did not yield any results.
