DUTA calls for boycotting evaluation of exam papers

New Delhi: Amid protests over the central government's proposed move to grant 'financial autonomy' to public universities, teachers at Delhi University called for a boycott of evaluation of examination papers scheduled to be checked from Wednesday.

The announcement was made ahead of the visit of University Grants Commission (UGC) officials at St Stephen's College, after its governing body had in-principle agreed to apply for autonomy.

DU students are currently taking their exams. An evaluation boycott will delay results, causing a problem for final-year students looking to apply for further studies, said a source.

Meanwhile, DU Teachers' Association (DUTA) said it will hold a protest outside St Stephen's College on Thursday against the UGC team coming for the inspection on May 10-11, said a DUTA statement.

"These insidious attempts are part of the larger agenda to privatise and commercialise the public-funded education system in the country. This will push education out of reach of a vast majority of students, who come from underprivileged sections, including women and differenly-abled students," said Rajiv Ray, president, DUTA.

He added that the dismembering of the varsity will also have negative consequences for the working condition of teachers and the non-teaching staff. Ray also said that colleges of repute will turn into teaching shops.

Teachers of DU are united in their opposition to the fragmentation and privatisation of DU and other public-funded institutions.

The lackadaisical approach of the administration to teachers' issues and their demoralisation cannot be accepted anymore, said a DU professor.

He added that teachers see no choice before them, but to take drastic steps to draw attention to the deep crisis the university is facing on all these counts. DUTA also appealed to students to stand with the teachers in this hour of crisis.