Delhi University teachers staged a protest outside University Grants Commission (UGC) against the Academic Performance Indicators (API), for evaluation of performance of academicians and demanded setting up of pay review committee for them on Monday.
The teachers, who carried umbrellas with messages written on them, submitted a memorandum of their demands to the UGC. “It is unfortunate that despite widespread criticism of the Point Based Appraisal System (PBAS), there is an attempt to retain this irrational quantification of quality of teaching. The committee recommendations in this regard should be shared in public domain and UGC should invite feedback from teachers’ bodies on the new proposal. Decisions that would have far-reaching consequences for teachers across the country with diverse and heterogeneous contexts must not be taken without a threadbare discussion on the implications,” the memorandum said.
Other demands highlighted by the agitating teachers included retrospective implementation of Career Advancement Scheme 2010, counting of past services for promotion, setting up of pay review panel for teachers, among others. “Deteriorating working conditions, ever-increasing contractualisation and adhocism, delay in promotions and denial of pension has adversely impacted universities,” the memorandum added.