JOIN USThe representative body of Delhi University’s teachers on Saturday hit out at the government, accusing it of aggressively pushing the agenda of privatisation in the higher education sector.
They say the government has left out teachers from the crucial process of consultation.
Criticising six Bills related to higher education tabled in Parliament, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) alleged the UPA government was “undermining” the social purpose of education by relinquishing the government’s role in providing it.
The direction and contents of these Bills tabled in the Rajya Sabha have been questioned, and even critiqued by all major teachers’ organisations and unions, DUTA said in a statement.
It said education is a necessary responsibility of the government but the UPA-II is “aggressively promoting” privatisation and is “undermining this important social purpose”.
“Through the Union human resource development ministry and the Planning Commission, the government has been arguing in favour of fee hike and withdrawal of subsidy from higher education,” the statement said.
“But the question of affordability is sought to be addressed by recommending education loans, which will impose huge financial burden on students,” it stated.
DUTA is planning a nationwide campaign against the Bills.