DUTA Rejects Points System for Appointments and Promotions; Warns UGC and MHRD of Impending Agitations
The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) is dismayed at the UGC’s decision to link the controversial API and Points-based Assessment System (PBAS) with teachers’ appointments and promotions in colleges and University departments. Despite several representations and meetings with the UGC Revisit Committee, in which the DUTA has clearly argued that besides being discriminatory, the Points System will adversely impact the quality of teaching, attraction towards the teaching profession and the relationship between teachers and students in institutions of higher learning, none of its concerns seem to have been addressed. In fact, the summary inclusion of the Points System in the UGC’s latest Regulations indicates that it never took the concerns and criticisms made by the DUTA, and other teachers’ associations, seriously.
The DUTA is firmly opposed to any measure that reduces teaching and academic pursuit to a mechanical exercise, encourages hostile competition between teachers and makes the career advancement of teachers dependent on variable and subjective factors like students’ feedback. The DUTA also reiterates that the disproportionate emphasis on research and publications is irrational and unacceptable as it would depend on certain conducive factors like institutional support, availability of time and resources for research and optimal teaching load, none of which are sufficiently provided to teachers in the current public-funded institutions. Thus, rather than assuring career advancement, the UGC has tried to exclude the majority of teachers from higher grades, better pay and more advanced academic situations.
The DUTA appeals to the UGC to reconsider its unfair decision on the Points System and instead, pay greater heed to the teaching community’s needs for ensuring better and more stable conditions of teaching-learning. Failing this, the DUTA will resort to widespread agitations against the UGC and MHRD.
Amar Deo Sharma S.D. Siddiqui
President, DUTA Secretary, DUTA