Scholar slams Centre over higher education policy

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, June 25: Iugurating the All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (AIFUCTO) Zol Meet on Sunday at ICSSR (NERC), NEHU Prof. Kesab Bhattacharya and President of AIFUCTO spoke at length on the present education scerio. 

Bhattacharya stated that the proposed tiol Education policy stresses on exclusive and not inclusive education. 

He expressed his anguish at the way the central government is pushing Indian higher education towards privatization and corporatization, ridding itself of all social and fincial commitment towards promoting higher education. 

The sinister designs are sought to be legitimized through proposed actions like doing away with long established institutions such as UGC and AICTE and replacing them by such bodies like HEFA (Higher Education Funding Agency) and HEERA (Higher Education Empowerment Regulatory Authority). 

Meanwhile, Prof Arun Kumar, general secretary AIFUCTO stated that the proposal for graded autonomy for university and colleges and categorisation of universities into 1, 2 and 3 is another dangerous move to create divisions among the ranks of the teachers and make easy the path of privatisation of higher education. 

“The government is trying to ease the burden of fincial responsibility, a move already initiated through drastic cuts in budget allocation in education,” he said.

Kumar pointed that making, NET, SET or BET compulsory for pursuing Ph.D would indefinitely hurt the cause of academics as many deserving candidates who could not qualify in these examitions for many reasons would be deprived. 

“This move is an attempt to thwart the march of higher education and research among a very large section of the educated Indians,” he said adding that the present move to hold the NET exam only once a year is another detrimental move for higher education. 

The issue of prolonged delay in the publication of recommendations of Seventh UGC Pay Review Committee and other long pending demands also came up in a big way in the Zol EC meeting.  The Zol Secretary NE Zone- 1 Prof M Lokendro Singh stated that this is a historic moment since all the representatives from the six states mely galand, Manipur, Aruchal Pradesh, Mizoram , Meghalaya and Assam participated which he said in turn reflects the concern of teachers regarding the current developments taking place in education. College teachers across the state participated at the Zol Meet. 

At the AIFUCTO Zol Meet the house resolved to observe “Justice Day” by holding state level conventions on July 12, 2017 will be held across the country to sensitize the issues among the teachers.

The house also decided to support the AIFUCTOs call for a massive rally to be held at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on July 24, 2017. 

All the affiliates of NE Zone-1 unimously agreed to participate actively in the AIFUCTO struggle in future at the same time to work together for the upliftment of higher education in the North East.