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Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) recently revealed a survey done on around 700 ad-hoc teachers, highlighting their demographic profiles and working conditions to revalidate ‘One-Time Absorption’ as the only way to alleviate the young teachers and their conditions. 

 

In a press statement released on 5th February 2020, DUTA revealed information about the demographic profiles and working conditions of the ad-hoc teachers of the University. According to the survey, over 4500 teachers at the University of Delhi are working on an ad-hoc or temporary basis, as permanent appointments haven’t taken place in over a decade. All the ad-hoc teachers fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria as per UGC regulations. 80% have higher qualifications and 88% are NET qualified. Nearly half the respondents have worked in one institution – this suggests that institutions are satisfied with the performance of the teachers and are benefitting from the contributions these teachers make to the academic and corporate life of the institutions. The data also shows that most Ad-hoc teachers are only able to pursue academic activities at great cost – without any leave or only during vacations, and nearly 25% are unable to pursue any academic activity at all.   

 

“Recruitment was done sporadically in two brief periods, first in 2014-15 and then in 2017, in few colleges/departments. The recruitment process, which started because of a High Court Order of December 2016, was brought to a complete halt because of the 5 March 2018 UGC notification for the implementation of Department/Subject-wise roster. It took over a year for the issue to get resolved. However, meanwhile, all advertisements for permanent appointments over 2700 posts lapsed. The change in screening criteria and recruitment process as per UGC Regulations 2018 now threatens the prospects of a vast majority of these teachers,” the Statement read. 

 

The ad-hoc teachers have the same qualifications as permanent teachers- fulfilling all the requisite academic qualifications like NET/JRF, M Phil, PhD, Post-doctorate etc. from prestigious Universities of India and abroad, and having teaching experience for years- and perform the same functions in their colleges and institutions as permanent teachers, and still, are denied job security. They receive no facilities like annual increments, medical benefits, maternity leaves, etc. and the duration of their tenure depends largely on the whims of the administration of their institutions, as stated by the press release. “This is also reflected in the findings as women constitute 57% of the workforce and most of them are either unable to plan their families or face extreme hardship during their pregnancies. Many are forced to leave their job – this is not reflected in the survey as only those who were able to get back their job figure in the survey.”

 

DUTA and the University’s teachers have been agitating for over 2 months now to press for demands related to their service conditions, including pensions, promotions, and permanency in jobs, claiming that these policies stand in stark violation of not only the Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Delhi but also of UGC Regulations which have stipulated maximum 10% for such vacancies and also go against the spirit of various court judgements and violates the fundamental rights of the affected teachers including the right to equal wage for equal work. “Various State Governments have initiated such processes of regularization for teachers in their State Universities through notified executive orders. Even the Government of NCT, Delhi, through the Governing Bodies in the colleges maintained by the Delhi Government, has shown willingness towards the process of regularization: many of these Governing Bodies have passed resolutions recommending a one-time absorption of all working temporary/ad-hoc teachers which now needs sanction from the UGC and the MHRD. In 2009, the UGC had asked Universities/Institutes to absorb UGC Research Scientists working in the units.

 

Today, when over 50% population is below the age of 25 years, it is important to strengthen public funded educational institutions. Infrastructure development and maintaining adequate teachers’ number are essential for quality education. It is important that University and its colleges, which serve lakhs of students from across the country, are stabilized through permanent faculty,” DUTA said. 

 

DUTA recommends that the UGC should frame a specific Regulation as a one-time measure for the absorption of the temporary/ad-hoc teachers in the University: a provision for teachers to be absorbed against vacancies which are approved and earmarked according to the DoPT Reservation Roster for teaching positions. Their ongoing struggle has led to the MHRD to recognize that no adhoc teacher be removed until permanent recruitment is done.

 

Feature image credits: Satviki Sanjay for DU Beat

Shreya Juyal

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The Union Budget 2020 released by the Government has left Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) highly dismayed for not addressing their proposals and grievances even after a series of strikes and protests.

The union budget 2020 passed by the Government has left the DUTA extremely disappointed for not paying heed to the deepening crisis in public-funded higher education. Despite the strikes by the professors of University of Delhi (DU), the Government, in its budgetary allocation, still continues on its path of privatization by reducing grants and promoting a loan funded education through allocating a greater budget, with an increase of 100 crores to Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). A large part of it is earmarked for expensive bureaucratic schemes such as world-class universities and others, causing fear of promotion in disparity and institutional hierarchy in the sector. The budget also encourages commercialisation and obstructs the traditional classroom teaching by mentioning a separate provision for full online degree programs.

DUTA DEADLOCK ENDS

Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Amrita Ajay, a professor from English department, Maitreyi college says, “I am not sure if it’s going to be a good model as there is no substitute for classroom teaching, in the world the MOOC’s have only taken up these causes but, I don’t know how far these online degrees contribute in terms of their knowledge increasing.” She further says that she is a little apprehensive for the same. The aggregate increase in the budgetary allocation for higher education from INR 38317 crores to INR 39466 crores presents a marginal increase of 2.79 % and from this as well a large part of the money is earmarked for expenditure which is of no direct benefit for students or teachers. There is also a reduction in the grants allocation for central universities from INR 2593 crores to INR 2298 crores.

Rajib Ray, DUTA President said, “The DUTA fears that the slashing of grants in higher education will affect permanent recruitments and promotions of teachers across central universities. These universities are already being filled to push a large number of vacancies with short term contractual appointments instead of attracting and retaining academic talent.” He further continued, “This scenario will eventually lead to a sharper decline in the quality and academic standards of these institutions.” The Economic survey clearly points out that this model of education deprives the students belonging to financially middling and poor families of higher educational studies.

The corporate greed and interest in having financial institutions have left the Government completely blind to the widespread protests in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), University of Hyderabad (UoH), DU, and other universities against the increment in the tuition fees, along with hostel and mess charges. The budget pushes the traditionally worshipped teachers to the lowest of the priority list as it allocates greater funds to begin virtual classrooms associated with the online degree programs. This somewhere, even highlights that the need to maintain and upgrade classrooms, laboratories, and libraries would be ignored and will stand in high contrast to the Government’s scheme of world-class type universities.

With respect to the Government’s model of having a loan sponsored higher education system, the DUTA president said, ” the lessons of the US debt crisis, in which the share of unrecovered student loans was extremely large, does not seem to have gone home. The substitution of direct subsidy by loans may assist private financiers in the short term, but it is a recipe for a disaster waiting to happen.”

Feature image caption: DUTA strike against the recommendation of 7th pay revision.

Feature image credits:  DU Beat 

Kriti Gupta 

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In an issued press release by Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) , the key demands of the association were raised, along with the future course of action for going about the protest was set out as well to make sure their demands get headed.

On 16th January 2020, Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) issued a press release which broadly highlighted the reconsideration of mode of protest to be carried further and re-entry of teachers into the classrooms.

DUTA General Body Meeting was held to reconstruct the mode of pretests to be observed further, by prioritising larger student interests. Even though teachers would continue to work and take up classes, they will however refrain from evaluation duty and screening as a symbol of boycott. Unsettled ‘key issues’ such as one time regulation for absorption, promotion, pension, recovery and issue of Physical Education (PE) teachers would be the ‘focal issue’ for day and night dharna (protest) outside the Vice Chancellor’s (VC) office.

The DUTA has well devised its protocol to be followed in order to get its demands heard. It calls for taking forward the struggle of one time regulation for absorption by reaching out to Members of Parliament(MPs). It will rewrite to the ‘Visitor’ and the ‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ on the matter to seek appointment. In order to gain solidarity from the leaders it will also organize a ‘Long March’ to Parliament during the upcoming budgetary session. It will organise a petition by MPs to the visitors on the issue. All of these are primarily aimed at getting their issues to reach out to both the Houses of parliament: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, thereby ensuring that their concerns are rendered due importance.

Expressing disdain for the ‘privatisation of education’ that follows the new proposed “Educational Policy” DUTA, resolves to mobilize students and ‘karamcharis’(workers/non-teaching staff) towards a massive citizen’s protests against these policies to reverse the existing trend of ‘commercialisation of education’ and ‘contractualisation of of services’ of teaching and non teaching staff.

The DUTA General Body further, urged the government and the VC to implement the agreement reached on 5th December 2019 in letter and spirit to honor honest honest dialogue towards resolution of DUTA’s pending demands. The General Body boldly ‘warned’ these stakeholders with an ‘ultimatum’ of a months’ time, that they will be held responsible for agitation and unrest caused due to non compliance with the demands.

In their future course of action, the DUTA will again hold a General Body Meeting(GBM) around 15th February 2020 to further escalate the movement circling around the above mentioned key areas of absorption, promotion, pension and recovery of PE teachers, if in case demands are not met with. The DUTA GBM reiterated it’s demand for the removal of Vice Chancellor, as well.

The DUTA seems very reselient and stands rock solid towards going about it’s demands. The student fraternity however holds their own concerns. A first year B.A. (H) Political Science student from Kirori Mal College spoke DU Beat, and said,” We understand the demands of the teachers and we are with them but erratic pattern of the strike has become a hindrance as the classes are being suspended very often.”

Another student Gauri Gupta from first-year, B.Sc Maths (Hons) from Kamala Nehru College raised similar concerns, and said,”The demands of teachers are just and I stand with them,” however, she further added that”I don’t like the cost at which all of this is happening.”

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Umaima Khanam

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On 15th January, officials of Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry met Delhi University (DU) Vice Chancellor (VC), Yogesh Tyagi, to discuss in detail the issue of recruitment of staff at the university and also, appeal to teachers to call off their month-long strike that began on 4th December 2019.

HRD Ministry met Yogesh Tyagi, Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, on Wednesday over the vehement issue of recruitment of teachers. The HRD officials also aimed to appeal to agitating teachers to call off their strike. DU teachers have raised several demands and one of these demands is the absorption of ad hoc teachers permanently and their tenure should be considered as part of their total service.

Amit Khare, the Higher Education Secretary of HRD Ministry met DU VC and some other University Officials and further appealed the teachers to withdraw their strike for the smooth functioning of the University as it would be in the best interests of all students.

All colleges and institutions have been asked to appoint contract, ad hoc, guest and temporary faculty before commencing the procedure of appointing permanent faculty. Another issue that has been taken up by the university is the additional requirement of faculty as per the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) scheme. The Ministry also offered an option to ad-hoc to appear for interviews for becoming permanent faculty. Earlier, DU was instructed to let ad-hoc faculty continue their service until the positions of permanent faculty are filled.

Last week, several officials associated with Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) had met officials of the HRD Ministry to discuss the demands raised by the teachers’ association. DU teachers went on an indefinite strike and collectively decided to boycott evaluation as a means to bring their demands forward. In the month of December, several protest marches were organized by DUTA to HRD Ministry and UGC.

Image Credits: The Financial Express

Suhani Malhotra

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On 10th January 2020, University of Delhi (DU) teachers marched from Mandi House to the Parliament Street demanding absorption of all teachers, promotion and pension among other issues. Following them Courting-Arrest, Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) office bearers were invited to meet the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) Secretary, UGC Chairperson and Jt. Secretary, MHRD at the Ministry.

Releasing a Press Release, DUTA Office Bearers expressed their discontentment with MHRD’s failure in the implementation of the 5 December Record of Discussions in entirety. The officials have expressed their commitment to implement the same. In this context, DUTA representatives pointed out the inaction on the Vice Chancellor (VC)’s part in implementing the 5th December Record of Discussions with respect to releasing option forms and initiating the promotion process. They also pointed out the non-implementation of the proposed relief on screening criteria and counting of past services.

The release of additional Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) expansions on student-teacher ratio along with University’s (in)action to ensure that no ad hoc is displaced due to the EWS reservation until permanent appointments are made; were also raised.

Dr Agnitra Ghosh, Professor, Kamla Nehru College, Member of DUTA, told DU Beat, “The ruling regime is hell bent on pushing more and more policies of contractualization to destroy public universities. And the DUTA and faculty members of DU are fighting against that. The entire system of ad hocism has created a situation of employment without any security and dignity. Now, the admin further wanted to downgrade ad hoc position to guest, which was resisted. For the last 10 years, DU faculty members have been denied promotions. A university can’t run in this way without basic minimum facilities provided to it’s faculty members. But DU teachers are consistently fighting back and we have also received overwhelming solidarity from the student community of DU.”

With regard to the association’s key demand, one-time absorption of temporary ad-hoc teachers, MHRD stated that only Governemt should take a decision on the same. DUTA expressed their disapproval and sought justness of the fact that several thousand young teachers have been languishing for long years without permanent jobs.

Discussing over the release of the corrected concordance tables for revision of pensions, DUTA officials were informed that the matter was presented before the Finance Ministry. Demand for the withdrawal of the letter dated 21.04.2019 to the University by MHRD was also raised, for which they were asked to pursue the matter with the Finance Ministry.

Apart from this, DUTA submitted a memorandum stating the other long-standing demand of teachers, the resolution of the UGC Regulations 2018, which has a direct bearing on the pending promotions. DUTA officials also expressed their opposition to the Draft New Education Policy 2019’s anti-education recommendations, uniting against the corporatisation of higher education. DUTA reiterated their demand for the VC’s resignation.

Since 4th December 2019, Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has been on an indefinite strike and a 24-hour indefinite dharna outside the Vice Chancellor’s Office seeking absorption, promotion and pension for ad hocs and temporary staff.

Feature Image Credits: Hindustan Times

Anandi Sen
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DUTA protesters burned an effigy of Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi as the strike against the New Education Policy enters its 36th day. 

On 8th January 2020, hundreds of protesters gathered despite the harsh and severe climate to protest against the lack of action being taken by the University of Delhi and its Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi. The gathering was called by Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) against the inaction being taken regarding their demands of permanent absorption and time-bound promotions of the university’s teachers. The gathering burnt an effigy to show their vexation over his neglect and reiterate his removal.

DUTA  has been on strike since last month in demand of one-time regulation for the absorption of ad-hoc and temporary teachers, with the continuance of the indefinite strike with the boycott of invigilation, evaluation and all other official duties to press for their demand. In a press release, DUTA stated that the working conditions of DU teachers have continued to worsen in comparison to all other universities. They claim that without direct intervention from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), it will be impossible to retain the academic talent that continues to contribute to DU’s position as a premier central university,” and insists that the only alternative for ending the strike is complete acceptance and implementation by the DU administration of all the points of agreement reached with the DUTA and articulated in its summary note of discussion released on 6 December 2019.

In the press release, DUTA president Rajib Ray stated, “The plight of ad-hoc and temporary teachers in DU is characterised by despair. DUTA reiterates that the only just solution to prolonged ad-hoc in DU (for which the current VC and his officials are responsible in a big way) is Permanent Absorption. The DUTA is dismayed that despite a detailed White Paper arguing the case for the VC’s removal, the MHRD and UGC has been dragging its feet and allowing him to continue his anti-teacher and inactive mode of administration.

The DUTA will mobilise the teachers and students in the coming days for massive action programmes unless its agreement with the MHRD and UGC is implemented immediately and decisive action is taken against the DU Vice-Chancellor.”

The teachers of the University of Delhi have been on strike since 6th December.

 

Feature Image Credit: DU Beat Archives

Shreya Juyal

[email protected]

As the new semester takes off from today, 1st January, the University of Delhi (DU) halls still witness the indefinite strike of Delhi University’s Teacher’s Association (DUTA) that began from 4th December, demanding permanent absorption of ad-hoc teachers.

 

Delhi University’s Teacher’s Association (DUTA)’s a month-long strike which was initiated on 4th December 2019, to demand permanent absorption of more than 4500 ad-hoc teachers has continued even till the new semester. The protest led to an amendment of 28th August Circular along with relief given to ad-hoc teachers to sit for interviews for permanent positions by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). The MHRD also guaranteed that no ad-hoc teacher would be removed until permanent positions would be filled. However, the demand for permanent absorption of 4500 ad-hoc teachers was not fulfilled that has fueled this on-going agitation.

 

The teachers had already boycotted evaluation and invigilation duties for the end-semester examinations. The DUTA has still decided to continue their strike which leaves the fate of the students in this semester hanging which can be owned up to to the lack of action by DU administration.

 

The demands of teachers also consisted of the consideration of ad-hoc time for time-based appraisal. Over 2700 positions in various departments are yet to be filled which have risen due to retirement or resignation in this semester.

 

Rajib Ray, President, DUTA, told Indian Express that “The call for strike still stands but the teachers will collect syllabi from their colleges to not hamper the studies of the students. We will conduct a review on January 7 to decide the future course of action.”

 

However, the administration has provided a contrasting view stating that the evaluation is ‘on track’ and there has been no hindrance. Vinay Gupta, Dean (Examinations) said as per Indian Express that, “There have been no issues and the result is likely to be declared by January end.”

 

Amidst the many conflicting perspectives, an official notification by DUTA as well as the DU administration is required to solve the chaos to ensure proper systematic teaching of students.

 

Feature Image Credits: newsclick

Chhavi Bahmba

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The DUTA General Board met on 20th December 2019 to determine the association’s trajectory of actions as they move forward with the strike 

The General Board Meeting (GBM) Resolution passed by Delhi University’s Teachers’ Association (DUTA) on 20th December, begins by congratulating the teachers for making the strike effective and encouraging them to continue the day-night dharna ta the Vice Chancellor’s Office. It further appeals to them to boycott their evaluation and other official duties, in view of the association’s demands remaining unaddressed. The General Body also decided to extend its indefinite strike as ad-hoc teachers across the university, in different colleges, continue to be removed. The judgment spells out an urgent need for protestors to proactively push for the absorption of ad-hoc teachers on the basis of the Department of Personnel and Training Roster and promotion of teachers with their ad-hoc experience also being taken into consideration.

The General Body goes on to condemn the Vice-Chancellor of the University for his blatant disregard of the association’s persistent demands and refusal to revoke the highly contested 28th August 2019 letter, in the judgment. On account of the VC’s inaction, the General Body laid down various mass action programs, for the coming week; On Monday, 23rd December, a march on campus is scheduled to be held against the VC to demand the immediate implementation of Record of Discussion of 5th December 2019. The following day on Tuesday, 24th December, DUTA will hold a press conference on the issue of Absorption and other issues that stand before them. While, at colleges, where ad-hoc teachers have been terminated, DUTA Office Bearers are to correspondingly decide on an action programme if concerned principals do not immediately act upon the University Letter of 12th December 2019.

 The resolution appeals staff associations to further their support for and participation in the agitation and urges them send in suggestions before the next Extended Executive on 27th December 2019 which is to be immediately followed by the next DUTA GBM on 27th December 2019 when a review of the past week will be held and another plan of action will be accordingly formulated.

 

Prisha Saxena

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Image Credits: DU Beat Archive

The Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) has offered a one-time relief to allow all ad-hoc teachers of the University of Delhi (DU) to appear for interviews for permanent positions.

The MHRD has ended an impasse and finally offered relief to the ad-hoc teachers of DU, allowing them to appear for interviews for permanent positions. The government on Friday, 20th December, also directed DU to let the ad hoc teachers continue in their positions until the permanent positions are filled. After a meeting between Professor Yogesh Tyagi, the vice-chancellor of DU and the MHRD along with University Grant Commission’s (UGC) officials, the university wrote to the principals and directors of colleges and institutions of the university that the vacancies will be filled in a time-bound manner and ad hoc and guest faculty will continue as an interim measure.

This decision was taken after the teachers of the university rose in an indefinite strike, called by the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) on 4th December 2019. They called for this strike in support of their demand to withdraw the 28th August circular mandating appointment of guest faculty over ad-hoc teachers against substantive vacancies arising for the first time in the academic session. The teachers were urged to stay away from all official duties, including invigilation and evaluation of the university’s end-semester examinations. DUTA officials also met with principals of colleges who have kept renewal of ad-hoc teachers’ tenure in abeyance and have not released salaries.

Amit Khare, Secretary, higher education, MHRD, said, “After the meeting of the UGC on Thursday, 19th December, it was decided that as a one-time relief, all the ad-hoc teachers will be eligible for appearing in the interviews for fulfilment of permanent positions in University of Delhi. Moreover, the working ad-hoc teachers will continue in their positions till the time the permanent positions are filled.”

The letter issued by the university to its colleges stated that the colleges and institutions would have to fill the permanent vacancies in a “time-bound manner” and that in the interim time taken to fill out these positions, ad-hoc/temporary/guest faculty can be appointed.

Rajib Ray, the president of DUTA, said, “We welcome the decision. We want further concessions so that the ad-hoc teachers are absorbed in the permanent positions soon.”

However, the DUTA continues their indefinite strike for further demands of absorption on the basis of DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) roster and promotion with counting of Ad-hoc experience.

Feature Image Credits: India TV

Shreya Juyal

[email protected]

On December 9th, as a part of the indefinite strike against the Ad-Hoc Crisis, more than 3000 teachers of the DUTA marched to Parliament Street to demand absorption of all ad-hoc teachers.

 

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA)’s movement for the absorption of ad-hoc and temporary teachers has intensified over the past week. More than three thousand teachers marched to Parliament Street on 9th of December, where many of them courted arrest with the DUTA leadership.

 

DUTA began protesting from 4th of December, the protest that initially began outside of VC office has seen some improvements. The protest continued day and night,. in many parts of the National Capital. It has seen many forms of protesting like Vice-Chancellor (VC) Office Gherao, candlelight marches, “We Are Our Families” and much more.

 

After much struggle, the Ministry of Health and Development (MHRD), agreed to some of the urgent demands of the DUTA, including the amendment to the 28th August DU Administration Circular and the counting of past services in all pending cases of promotions as per the 2018 Career Advancement Scheme. However, the demands for the absorption of ad-hoc teachers and the counting of total years of service for promotions have not been conceded to by the MHRD.

 

The ad-hoc teachers were let go all, overnight, by the decree of the 28th August Circular, the inhuman and exploitative conditions under which Adhoc teachers have been forced to work for many years, including the denial of minimum employee rights like maternity leave etc. can only be mitigated through absorption as believed by the DUTA.

 

In order to gain more momentum to the movement, The DUTA leadership has written a letter to the HRD Minister, urging the Ministry to initiate further dialogue on all the urgent and pending issues that have been ignored till now.

 

In a letter titled ‘Demand for a UGC Regulation for the One-Time Absorption of temporary and ad-hoc teachers and other crucial demands of teachers of Delhi University’, addressed to Sh. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Human Resources Development, the DUTA has welcomed the timely intervention of the MHRD and UGC in meeting the teachers’ representatives to find solutions and the acceptance of some of their key demands through the Ministry’s communication dated 5th December 2019.

 

The letter also mentions other unaddressed demands of the Association such as that the Second Tranche positions of the much delayed Other Backward Classes (OBCs) Expansion and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Expansion be immediately utilized and added to the teaching roster following the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidelines. In this context, the DUTA also demands that the Kale Committee report be adopted and implemented in Delhi University and that the University Grants Commission (UGC) sanctions posts for self-financing courses and absorbs teachers working on these positions.

 

The DUTA has also been demanding an end to the constant threat to the service conditions of the teachers of Physical Education in the University.

 

 

DUTA, has also, allegedly said, “…if the MHRD continues to ignore the DUTA’s pending demands, it will face the collective ire of the teaching community.”

In light of these recent developments in the teachers’ resistance movement in the University, Rajib Ray, President DUTA, in conversation with DU Beat, encouraged the student-teacher collective step-up their involvement in the movement for teachers’ welfare and an efficient education system.

 

Featured Image Credits: DNA India

 

Chhavi Bahmba

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Bhavya Pandey

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