FEDCUTA Letter to MHRD reg. Memorandum of Joint Forum for Movement on Education: 05.05.2020

New Delhi

5th May, 2020

Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’,

Hon’ble Minister, MHRD, Shastri Bhavan,

New Delhi-110001

Sub: Memorandum of Joint Forum for Movement on Education

Dear Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal,

As you may be aware, the Joint Forum for Movement on Education (JFME), is an umbrella organisation representing Associations of University and College Teachers, School Teachers, Non-Teaching University Employees, Students, Parents and other organisations working for scientific and democratic education. For the last several years, the various constituents of JFME have been struggling against policies that have adversely impacted public-funded education in terms of withdrawal of funding, dilution of academic and scientific content and weakening of its democratic and inclusive character. The JFME has attempted to articulate these concerns through a common platform. In October 2018, JFME held a National Convention that adopted a resolution and a Charter of Demands. This was followed by a massive People’s March on 19th February 2019, after which a joint memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister and to leaders of various political parties. This year, on 25th February 2020, the JFME held a National Convention on “Education and the Constitution”, to discuss the impact of the Draft National Education Policy 2019 on Constitutional values. The resolution adopted by the Convention is attached as Annexure 1. A massive People’s March planned for the 19th March 2020 was postponed because of the Novel Corona Virus pandemic.

The severe impact of the pandemic across the world has served to bring home the importance of strong public-funded health and education systems. It is a wake-up call against unbridled privatisation especially in vital sectors such as  health and education. In the light of this, the Government must review its recent policies and in particular the Draft National Education Policy, that we believe makes way for greater centralisation, corporatisation and exclusion.

Unfortunately, the lockdown necessitated  by the pandemic is being used by certain quarters to promote online teaching, assessment and examinations as a systemic alternative to formal education.  While academic engagement through e-resources during the period of lockdown is unexceptionable, any attempt to formalise it as online teaching/examination through specific modes is unreasonable and unacceptable because of (a) lack of institutional support     

(b) uneven internet access and (c) non-uniform and non-conducive domestic environment. These creates a digital divide that is discriminatory towards women and students from marginalised sections and those living in rural or remote areas. A formal study by the Central University of Hyderabad  has revealed that only 37% of the 2,500 students interviewed were comfortable with online classes!

Future policies must also factor world-wide studies into learning outcomes of MOOCS that compare poorly even with distance education as the latter has a component of person-to-person contact. Education is about continuous human interaction and critical engagement through dialogue and questioning for which a formal classroom space is essential. ODL and MOOCs can at best be supplementary additional resources. Moreover, experience in many universities has shown that ODL administrative structures lead to the marginalisation of teachers  in all academic processes including curriculum-making as well as teaching and learning. Often the tendency is to substitute and replace teachers with technology, eventually leading to alienation of both students and teachers, job losses and the impoverishment of the entire university system. A note on this issue has been annexed as Annexure 2.

In the light of the above, we urge you to revisit and revise any circulars and policies in this regard.

With regards,

Arun Kumar                       Rajib Ray                        Nandita Narain

Gen Sec AIFUCTO         Pres FEDCUTA            Chairperson JFME

Amiya Kumar Mohanty

Convener, JFME

JOINT FORUM FOR MOVEMENT ON EDUCATION

All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organization, Federation of Central University Teachers’ Association, All India Federation of Retired University and College Teachers’ Organization, All India University Employees Confederation, School Teachers’ Federation of India, All India Secondary Teachers’ Federation, All India Federation of Elementary Teachers’ Organization, Indian Public Service Employees Federation, All India Primary Teachers’ Federation. (AIPTF), All India Federation of Educational Association,  All India Forum for Right to Education, All-India Save Education Committee, All India People’s Science Network, Bharti Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Students’ Organisations (AIDSO, AIMSA, AIBSA, AGS, AIPSU, AISA, AISF, CYSS, DISHA, KYS, NEFIS, NSUI, SFI)