26 May : The Chandigarh District Council of the PCCTU today rejected the third Amendment to the UGC Regulations (2010) notified through the Gazette of India on 4 May 2016, regarding recruitments and Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) and promotions of university / college teachers because they spell disaster for the teaching –learning processes and endanger the livelihood of not only a significant section of the currently employed teachers but also thousands of aspirants as well.
A massive protest was held at the Panjab University Campus today as the District Council of PCCTU launched its agitation. Hundreds of teachers from the aided colleges of Chandigarh boycotted the evaluation work at the Panjab University in protest against the draconian third amendment.
The President of the Chandigarh District Council, Prof Rupinder Chatha said , ‘The most horrifying feature of these amendments is that they shall result in thousands of job cuts across the country. In contravention to the UGC Regulations of 2010, the present amendments dictate a 50 to 66 percent increase in the number of hours a teacher is required to teach per week. As a result 50-66 % existing teaching jobs will be lost.’ She demanded complete roll back of the said API system.
The General Secretary of The Chandigarh District Council, Prof Bhupinder Singh rued the fact that these amendments seek to redefine ‘direct teaching hours’ by excluding tutorials, seminars, etc. from actual teaching workload. Practicals stand devalued as well. Two hours spent on guiding students in Practical have been made equivalent to one hour spent on direct teaching. So, teachers would have to put in double the no. of hours for seeking any credit from practicals. This will adversely impact teaching of the students and hit the academic performance of students coming from the disadvantaged background.
The President of DAV College Teachers’Union, Prof Dinesh Talwar also informed that a disproportionately high number of lecture hours will also leave teachers with no time to pursue any meaningful research which is essential for superior knowledge production and growth of teachers and institutions. He said that there shall be a protest on the International Yoga Day against the anti teacher UGC Amendment.
The Convener of the Women’s Cell of the PCCTU, Prof Iqbal Preet Kaur said that the boycott of the evaluation work at Panjab University shall continue on 27 May 2016 as well. The teachers would be forced to intensify their stir if immediate remedial measures are not taken, she added.