DUTA PRESS RELEASE: 14 February 2019

The DUTA’s call for a Nation-wide Mobilisation against the Government’s skewed policies of Commercialisation, Loan-funding, Contractual Employment, Drastic Cuts in Research Seats and attack on the Reservation Policy in teachers’ appointments has found an overwhelming response from students across DU colleges. Despite inclement weather conditions, thousands of teachers and students have held extensive interactions in the last two days, in preparation for the 19 February JFME Save Nation, Save Education Rally , to be jointly organised under the banner of DUTA, FEDCUTA and AIFUCTO.

Students and teachers jointly organised a Human Chain in IP College while students in Kamla Nehru and Gargi College had poster-making sessions.  Teachers and students held solidarity meetings in  several colleges including Ramjas College, JDM, ZHDC, Satyawati College, SGTB Khalsa College, St. Stephen’s College, Vivekananda College and ARSD College. These meetings were also attended by activists of the DUTA who informed students about the specific nature of hostile policies that undermine the young population’s career aspirations and career prospects in Higher Education. Women, students belonging to marginalised and backward castes and tribes and minorities feel especially threatened with exclusion if universities and colleges are forced to take HEFA loans and raise fees.

Issues related to the complete failure to appoint teachers on permanent basis, continued Adhocism in teaching, no promotions over the last ten years and the denial of pensions for teachers were also raised.

Concerns over the absence of informed debates about the declining health of public-funded Higher Education in the Parliament as well as the national media were also expressed. In many colleges, students have decided to use social media, blogs and other digital platforms to raise awareness and call the nation’s attention about the Government’s indifference towards public-funded universities and colleges, and its destructive policy moves that favour a few private players and financial institutions hoping to make a profit at the expense of quality and equitable access in Higher Education.

Teachers and students are expected to march in many thousands in the People’s  March by Joint Forum for Movement on Education (JFME)  on Tuesday, 19 Feb from Mandi House to Parliament Street starting at 11 am. JFME is a platform which is led by DUTA, FEDCUTA, AIFUCTO and includes AIRFTE and unions of school teachers and parents. Over tens of thousands of parents, students and teachers are coming to Delhi to participate in the People’s March.