Delhi University teachers have largely rejected the varsity authorities’ request for feedback on the proposed Higher Education Commission of India, which will become a single overarching regulator for higher and technical education.
The teachers say the one-week deadline that acting vice-chancellor P.C. Joshi gave them to respond is too short.
Any hurried exercise can only be seen as a way to suppress opinion and manipulation to show consensus at the ground level to the imposed policies when there is none,
DU Teachers’ Association president Rajib Ray has written to Joshi.
The National Education Policy (NEP) provides for the creation of the HECI through an act of Parliament. The education ministry and the University Grants Commission have started consultations on the subject.
Joshi had written to the deans, principals, and teachers of the university on March 23 asking them to study the concept note on the proposed HECI and send their feedback by March 30. On March 29, the DU Teachers Association wrote back to Joshi seeking a deadline extension. Joshi has not responded yet.
Members of the staff association of a DU college said their association had decided not to send any feedback. They have passed a resolution saying implementation of the NEP should be withheld till the widest possible consultations had been held.
The teachers believe the NEP will encourage the privatization of higher education, shutting its doors to the poor and the marginalized.
Former DU executive council member Abha Dev Habib said the teachers needed time to hold workshops to debate the issues related to the HECI.
An email sent to Joshi on Wednesday afternoon seeking his response to the teachers’ concerns remained unanswered till late evening.
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